Minister States Ministry of Defence Investigating Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Personnel Instructed to Avoid Secret Talk in Vehicles.
A defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.