A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a issue in all 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.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
