An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of official operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
