A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
