A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly 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 presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
