A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
