An defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
