A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
