A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
