A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
