Minister Says MoD Looking at Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Staff Advised to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.
An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, including transport use to communication practices.