A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, including transport usage to discussions habits.
