An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle use to communication habits.
