A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned 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’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of official operations, including vehicle use to communication habits.
