An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
