A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark 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 disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
