Minister States MoD Investigating Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Staff Instructed to Avoid Confidential Discussions in Cars.
An defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.