An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
