A defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, including vehicle usage to communication habits.
