A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries 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 bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to communication practices.
