A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him 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 moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government operations, including transport use to communication practices.
