A defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication habits.
