An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
