An defense official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from transport use to communication habits.
