A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone 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 exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
