An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
