An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles 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 staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
