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An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.

Safety Guidance for MoD Staff

In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.

The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.

We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.

But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.

After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”

Wider Defence Background

This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.

Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.

This wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.