A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, including vehicle use to communication practices.
