A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider security situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.
