An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
