A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
