A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified information in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark 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 cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
