An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, including transport use to communication habits.
