A defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
