An defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars 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, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
