An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to communication practices.
