A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
