An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
