Government Official States MoD Investigating Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Staff Instructed to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Vehicles.
A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
