An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
