Minister Says MoD Looking at Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Staff Advised to Refrain from Secret Talk in Cars.

A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.

Security Advice for Defence Staff

In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.

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

We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.

But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.

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

Broader Security Background

This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.

Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.

This wider security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from transport usage to communication habits.