A defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
