An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
