An defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, including transport usage to communication practices.
