An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
