An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
