An defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication habits.
