A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
