A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for 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 devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official operations, including vehicle usage to communication habits.
