An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
