A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
