An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider security situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
