A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence 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 discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
