An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from transport use to communication habits.
