An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
