A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
