An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However 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 devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
