A defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
