A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
