An defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, including transport usage to communication practices.
