An defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
