A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
