A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
