A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, including vehicle usage to discussions practices.
