Government Official Says MoD Looking at Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Staff Instructed to Refrain from Secret Talk in Cars.
A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for 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 MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, including transport use to communication habits.
