A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government activities, including transport use to discussions habits.
