A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
