An defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
