A defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
