An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from transport use to communication practices.
