A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens 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 non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
