An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
