An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
