A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
