An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
