Government Official States MoD Looking at Potential Threat from Chinese Cars, as Staff Told to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Cars.
A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.