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A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.

Security Advice for Defence Staff

In a recently aired appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.

The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.

We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.

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 Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.

When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”

Wider Security Context

This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.

Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.

The broader security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, including vehicle use to discussions habits.