An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, including transport use to communication practices.
