A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
