An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
