An defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
