A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official operations, including transport use to discussions habits.
