A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
