An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
