An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
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 traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
