A defence official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
