An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
