A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
