A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
