A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
