An defense minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
