A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
