Minister Confirms Ministry of Defence Looking at Potential Threat from Chinese Cars, as Staff Told to Refrain from Secret Talk in Vehicles.

A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.

Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel

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

He said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.

Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.

But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.

After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”

Broader Security Background

This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.

Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.

This wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, including transport usage to discussions practices.