An defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
