An defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
