A defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport use to communication habits.
