An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
