An defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview 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 Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
