An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
