An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations 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 ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official operations, including vehicle use to communication habits.
