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An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.

Security Advice for Defence Staff

In a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.

The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.

We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.

However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.

After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”

Broader Security Context

This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.

Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.

The broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.