An defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government activities, including vehicle use to communication habits.
