A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
