Minister Confirms MoD Looking at Security Risk from Chinese Cars, with Personnel Told to Refrain from Secret Talk in Cars.
A defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
