An defense minister has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, from transport use to communication habits.
