An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
