Government Official Says MoD Examining Potential Threat from Chinese Cars, with Staff Told to Refrain from Secret Talk in Cars.
A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.