Government Official Confirms Ministry of Defence Examining Potential Threat from Chinese Cars, as Staff Advised to Refrain from Secret Talk in Cars.
A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of official activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
