A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
