A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been told to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
