An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
