Minister Confirms MoD Looking at Security Risk from Vehicles from China, with Personnel Advised to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Cars.

A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.

Safety Advice for Defence Staff

During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.

The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.

Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.

But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.

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

Broader Security Background

The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.

Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.

The broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.