A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
