A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
