Government Official States Ministry of Defence Looking at Security Risk from Vehicles from China, with Personnel Told to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Vehicles.
A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government activities, including vehicle use to discussions practices.