Minister Confirms MoD Investigating Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Staff Advised to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.
A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been told to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
