A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, including transport use to discussions habits.
