A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, including transport use to discussions habits.
