A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
