A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
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 MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
