A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.