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An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.

Safety Guidance for MoD Staff

During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.

He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in every modern cars.

Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.

However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.

When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”

Wider Defence Context

The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.

Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.

The broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.