A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
