A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
