A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
