An defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
