An defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
