An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
