A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
