A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport use to communication habits.
