A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese 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 shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, including transport use to discussions practices.
