An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
