A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider defence situation highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.