A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
