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A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.

Security Guidance for Defence Personnel

During a recent interview on a radio station, Luke Pollard commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.

The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.

Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.

However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.

After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”

Broader Security Context

The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.

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

The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication habits.