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A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.

Safety Advice for MoD Personnel

In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.

He said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.

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

But whether 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 vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.

After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”

Wider Defence Background

This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.

Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.

This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to discussions habits.