A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, including transport use to communication habits.
