A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
