An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
