An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle usage to communication habits.
