An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether 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 vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
