Government Official States MoD Looking at Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Personnel Told to Refrain from Secret Talk in Vehicles.
An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
