An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence 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 MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle usage to discussions practices.
