A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
