A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, including transport use to discussions habits.
