Minister Says Ministry of Defence Investigating Security Risk from Vehicles from China, with Staff Advised to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.
An defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
