An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, including vehicle usage to discussions practices.
