An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government activities, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
