A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
