Government Official Says MoD Looking at Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Personnel Advised to Avoid Secret Talk in Vehicles.
An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
