An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including transport use to communication practices.
