An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
