A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
