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A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.

Security Guidance for MoD Personnel

In a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.

The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.

We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.

But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.

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

Broader Defence Background

This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.

The wider security situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.