An defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens 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 non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
