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A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.

Security Advice for Defence Staff

During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.

The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.

We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.

But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.

After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”

Wider Defence Context

The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.

This wider security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.