An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
