A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
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 MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
