What You Need to Know:
Recently, Sir Iain Duncan Smith made a striking claim regarding Beijing’s alleged tracking of the UK Prime Minister.
Apparently this was done using car parts manufactured in China.
The tracking devices, supposedly concealed in inconspicuous SIM cards imported from China, could monitor the Prime Minister’s whereabouts and the individuals he met.
The Details:
In a conversation with LBC journalist Nick Ferrari, Sir George Iain Duncan Smith claimed that reliable sources informed him about the existence of tracking devices hidden within UK government cars.
“Those devices that they’ve been putting into Downing Street cars, although they won’t admit it, tracking where the Prime Minister was going, knowing who he was seeing, this is exactly what they can do with batteries and with their cars,” said Sir George Iain Duncan Smith.
He continued by saying, “It gives the ability to survey government over a period of months and years, constantly filing movements, constantly building up a rich picture of activity.”
While previous reports hinted at the security services finding at least one SIM card in a government vehicle, Chinese officials dismissed these claims as “sheer rumour” back in January.
As the UK moves to achieve lower carbon emissions, restrictions have been placed on the domestic market, and by 2030, sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be prohibited. This future need for electric cars will open an opportunity for Chinese electric car manufactures to dominate the UK car market.
It will definitely be a security concern if China is able to take over the UK car market, given these accusations of spying.