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A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.

Safety Guidance for Defence Staff

In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.

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

We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars 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 people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.

After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”

Broader Defence Context

The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.

Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.

The wider security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication habits.