An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, including transport usage to discussions practices.
