A defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a collection 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 car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, including transport usage to discussions habits.
