A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, including transport usage to communication practices.
