Minister Confirms Ministry of Defence Examining Potential Threat from Chinese Cars, with Staff Advised to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.
An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff 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 officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
