An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
