A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD 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 to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport use to communication habits.
