An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, including transport usage to communication practices.
