An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
