An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider defence situation highlights the importance of robust measures and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
