An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
