An defense minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
