Government Official Says Ministry of Defence Investigating Security Risk from Chinese Cars, with Personnel Told to Avoid Confidential Discussions in Cars.
A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
