A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
