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A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.

Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel

In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.

He said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.

We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.

However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.

When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”

Broader Defence Background

This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.

Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.

This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of official activities, from transport use to discussions habits.