An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
