A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from transport use to communication practices.
