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An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.

Safety Advice for MoD Personnel

During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.

He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.

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

However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.

When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”

Wider Defence Background

This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.

Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.

This wider security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport use to discussions practices.