A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of government operations, including transport use to discussions practices.
