A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
