An defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
