A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
