An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider security situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
