An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, including vehicle use to discussions practices.
