A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent 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 technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
