An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
