A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
