An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But 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 car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried 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 exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
