An defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
