A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if 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 car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
