An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport use to communication habits.
