A defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving 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 classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted 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 chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, including transport usage to communication habits.
