An defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
