An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, including vehicle use to communication practices.
