An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, including transport use to discussions practices.
