A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from transport use to communication habits.
