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An defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.

Security Advice for Defence Personnel

During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.

The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.

We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.

However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.

When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”

Wider Security Context

This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.

This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.