An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
