An defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether 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 car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, including transport usage to communication habits.
