A defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
