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A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.

Safety Guidance for MoD Staff

During a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.

The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all modern cars.

Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.

However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.

When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”

Broader Security Context

The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.

Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.

This wider security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from transport usage to communication habits.