An defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, including transport use to communication habits.
