A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
