An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
