A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
