A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from transport use to communication habits.
