A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid discussing classified information in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
