An defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet 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 car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
