An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD 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 classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
