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A defence official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.

Safety Guidance for MoD Staff

During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.

He explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.

We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.

But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.

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

Wider Defence Background

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

Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.

This wider security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, including transport use to communication habits.