A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle usage to communication habits.
