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An defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.

Security Guidance for Defence Staff

In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.

The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.

Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.

However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.

After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”

Broader Defence Background

The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.

This broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.