Minister Says MoD Investigating Security Risk from Vehicles from China, as Staff Advised to Refrain from Secret Talk in Cars.
A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
