A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD 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 Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable 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 responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
