An defense official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
