A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview 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 stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
