A defence official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
