An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise 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, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
