An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China 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 secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of official operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.
