An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet 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, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, including transport use to communication habits.