An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
