A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, including transport usage to discussions practices.
