Government Official Confirms Ministry of Defence Investigating Security Risk from Vehicles from China, with Personnel Told to Refrain from Secret Talk in Vehicles.
A defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.