An defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
