An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
