A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of official operations, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
