An defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of official operations, including transport use to communication practices.
