A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.
