An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, including vehicle usage to discussions practices.
