An defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
