A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
