Government Official States Ministry of Defence Investigating Security Risk from Chinese Cars, with Staff Told to Refrain from Secret Talk in Vehicles.
A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
