A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification 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 sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security situation underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
