A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
