A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
