An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
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 China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
