A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However 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 MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret 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 MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
