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A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.

Security Advice for MoD Staff

During a recent appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.

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

Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.

But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.

When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”

Broader Defence Background

The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.

Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.

This wider defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport use to communication practices.