An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
