A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, including transport usage to discussions habits.
