A defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
