A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
