A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government activities, including transport use to discussions practices.
