A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
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 conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
