A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
