An defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of official operations, from transport use to communication practices.
