A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
