Minister States MoD Examining Security Risk from Vehicles from China, as Staff Told to Refrain from Secret Talk in Cars.
A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.