An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
