An defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
