Poland has officially banned Chinese-made cars from entering the country’s military facilities. The Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces said that the move reduces the risk of “uncontrolled acquisition and use of data by these systems.” This comes after a risk analysis was conducted in relation to the increasing use of digital systems in vehicles. This move is meant to enhance the security of the infrastructure. Other than that, Poland has also prohibited government workers from “connecting official phones to infotainment systems in motor vehicles manufactured in the People’s Republic of China.”In a blog post, the Polish army said that the move addresses concerns about digital systems in modern vehicles and their potential for data collection. However, NATO member Poland still maintains trade ties with China. SAIC Motor Corp.’s MG brand, Chery Automobile Co.’s models, and BYD Co. led sales among Chinese auto manufacturers in Poland.
What the Polish Army said about banning Chinese cars from its military sites
In a blog post, the Polish army’s Colonel Marek Pietrzak said that the restrictions also apply to other motor vehicles equipped with devices capable of recording position, image, or sound. Such vehicles will be permitted within protected areas of military installations if certain functions are disabled and appropriate preventive measures are implemented in accordance with facility security regulations.Commanders, chiefs, and unit leaders must, to the extent possible, provide alternative parking spaces for restricted vehicles outside military units, the blog said.The Polish army made it clear, though, that these rules will not be applicable to military facilities that are open to the public, such as clinics, hospitals, libraries, prosecutors’ offices, and garrison clubs. Official vehicles and military equipment belonging to the Polish Armed Forces are also exempt from the restrictions, and the same will not apply during rescue operations or activities carried out by state and local government bodies, services, inspections, and guards as part of their statutory duties.The Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces has also requested that his superiors take steps to establish appropriate legal and technical conditions that enable manufacturers of vehicles equipped with advanced monitoring systems to obtain information security approval. The aim is to introduce transparent, non-discriminatory mechanisms to verify the safety of vehicles offered on the Polish market while meeting requirements to protect sensitive infrastructure, the blog noted.Modern vehicles equipped with advanced communication systems and sensors can collect and transmit data, which requires appropriate security regulations for their use in protected areas, Pietrzak added.He also noted that the measures are preventive and consistent with practices used by NATO countries and other allies to ensure strong standards for defence infrastructure protection. These steps are a part of a larger process of modifying security protocols to the evolving technological landscape and contemporary demands for safeguarding vital infrastructure, the blog post highlighted.
