A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars 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 car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
