An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication habits.
