A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
