Minister Confirms Ministry of Defence Examining Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Staff Told to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.
An defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, including vehicle use to communication habits.
