Minister Confirms Ministry of Defence Looking at Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Personnel Instructed to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.

An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing classified information in any cars.

Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel

During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.

He explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.

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

But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, 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 car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.

After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”

Wider Defence Context

The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.

The broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.