A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
