A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
