An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including transport use to communication practices.
