Government Official Confirms MoD Examining Security Risk from Vehicles from China, as Personnel Instructed to Avoid Confidential Discussions in Vehicles.

An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in any cars.

Safety Guidance for MoD Staff

In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made cars.

He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.

We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.

However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned 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 precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”

Wider Security Context

The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.

Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.

This broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, including transport usage to discussions habits.