An defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
