An defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
