An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. 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 ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
