A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
