A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
