A defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
