An defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, including transport usage to discussions practices.
