A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
