An defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
