An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
