An defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars 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 to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from transport use to communication habits.
