An defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from transport use to communication habits.
