An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security situation highlights the importance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
