A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.