A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government operations, from transport use to communication habits.
