An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
