A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
