Minister Confirms MoD Looking at Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Personnel Told to Avoid Secret Talk in Vehicles.
A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
