A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
