A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
