A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
