An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
