An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
