An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet 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, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
