A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, 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 only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
