An defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
