A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every aspects of government operations, including transport usage to communication habits.
