A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s 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 all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
