An defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if 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 discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider defence environment underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
