A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, including transport usage to discussions habits.
