An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
