A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
