An defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport use to communication habits.
