A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
