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A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any vehicles.

Security Advice for MoD Staff

During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.

The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in every modern cars.

Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.

But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.

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

Wider Security Context

This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.

Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.

This broader defence situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.