A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
