An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.
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 staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official operations, including transport use to communication practices.
