A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
