An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK 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 disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including transport use to communication habits.
