A defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
