A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
