An defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including transport usage to communication practices.
