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An defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.

Security Advice for MoD Personnel

During a recently aired interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.

The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however noted 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 Chinese ones account for a very small number.

But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.

When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”

Wider Defence Background

The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.

The wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to communication practices.