An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks 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 anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
