An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
