A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
