A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, including transport use to communication practices.
