An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
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 driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
