A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise 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 is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
