An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
