A defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government activities, including vehicle use to discussions practices.
