A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, including transport usage to communication habits.
