A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
