An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
