An defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle usage to discussions practices.
