An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving 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 discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
