An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from transport use to communication habits.
