An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving 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 secret classification in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, including vehicle use to discussions practices.
