An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
