An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
