An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
