An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
