An defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
