Government Official Says Ministry of Defence Looking at Security Risk from Vehicles from China, as Staff Told to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Vehicles.
A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
