An defense official has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
