An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
