A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise 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 every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including vehicle usage to communication habits.
