An defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
