A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
