An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, including vehicle use to communication practices.
