US military bans BYD vehicles at Kadena airbase in Japan over security concerns
The US military has barred vehicles made by Chinese electric car maker BYD from Kadena airbase in Okinawa, Japan, citing security concerns. The restriction took effect this week at one of America's largest overseas bases. It applies not only to privately owned cars, but also to taxis and delivery vehicles entering the installation.
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A spokesperson for the US Air Force 18th Wing at Kadena said the vehicles present an "unacceptable and unmitigable risk" to personnel and the mission. Security staff at the base gates have been instructed to stop BYD vehicles and turn drivers away, according to the report. The military has not identified a specific threat, but the move reflects broader concern about vehicle-mounted cameras, sensors and GPS systems.
Kadena is the biggest US Air Force base in East Asia and would be directly involved in any crisis involving China, Russia or North Korea. The base hosts fighter aircraft, mid-air refuelling planes, and surveillance and reconnaissance assets, and it also includes the Typhon missile system. That system is said to be capable of firing Tomahawk missiles up to 1,600 kilometres, placing parts of China and Russia within range.
The decision comes amid wider US efforts to limit Chinese technology in sensitive settings. American and other Western officials have increasingly focused on the possibility that connected devices could collect information or be used to monitor users. In June, the Pentagon added BYD to a list of Chinese firms it believes have ties to the country's military, a move that drew a protest from Beijing.
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The Kadena restriction may be watched closely because of the base's strategic role and its size. It is not clear whether similar measures will be introduced at other US military facilities. The latest step also adds to a broader pattern of restrictions on Chinese smart technology, including phones and other connected devices, in military environments.
What remains unclear is whether the ban will be expanded, how long it will stay in place, and whether US officials will point to any specific technical risk. For now, the order appears to be a precautionary measure tied to the base's security profile and its proximity to regional flashpoints. Further guidance from the military would be needed to show whether this is an isolated decision or part of a wider policy shift.
