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A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in all cars.

Security Advice for Defence Personnel

During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.

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

We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.

But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.

After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”

Broader Defence Background

The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.

This wider security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.