A defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
