A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
