A defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
