A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, including transport usage to communication habits.
