An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, including transport usage to communication habits.
