A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for 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 Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
