A defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider defence environment underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
