A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
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’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
