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An defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.

Safety Guidance for MoD Staff

In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.

He explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.

Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.

But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.

After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”

Broader Defence Background

This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.

Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.

This wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in every areas of government operations, from transport use to communication habits.