US Bars BYD Vehicles From Kadena Air Base in Japan, Citing Security Risk

The US military in Japan has banned vehicles made by Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD from Kadena airbase, one of America's largest overseas military installations, on security grounds. The military announced the measure on Tuesday.

The ban took effect this week at the base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. It has prompted speculation that similar restrictions could follow at other US military facilities, as Washington continues to tighten its approach to Chinese technology it suspects could be used to gather sensitive information.

"These vehicles present an unacceptable and unmitigable risk to our personnel and our mission," said Lieut Col Alli Stormer, a spokesperson for the US air force 18th Wing at Kadena, in a statement.

According to reports, the restrictions cover every BYD vehicle, including privately owned cars, taxis and delivery vehicles. Security staff at the base's gates have reportedly been told to stop BYD vehicles and ask drivers to turn around.

Kadena is the largest US air force base in east Asia and would play a direct role in responding to a crisis involving China, Russia or North Korea. Its inventory includes the Typhon missile system, which is said to be able to fire Tomahawk missiles up to 1,600km, placing parts of China and Russia within range. The base also hosts fighter aircraft and planes used for mid-air refuelling, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to its website.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the move reflects concern about possible information leaks through vehicle-mounted technology such as cameras, sensors and GPS devices. American military officials have not pointed to a specific threat. The ban fits within broader efforts by the US and other western countries to limit Chinese smart technology in vehicles, phones and other devices that they fear could be used to spy on owners.

In June, the Pentagon added BYD to a list of 188 Chinese companies it believes have ties to China's military, which drew a protest from Beijing. The list also names automaker Nio, e-commerce company Alibaba and internet firm Baidu. In 2018, the US defence department banned the sale and use of smartphones made by Huawei and ZTE at military bases worldwide, also citing security concerns.

China has applied comparable restrictions to American products. In 2021, it barred Tesla vehicles from some government compounds over concerns about their onboard cameras. Beijing lifted that restriction in 2024 after Tesla received an endorsement from the country's top auto industry association.

BYD had not publicly responded to the Kadena ban at the time of reporting. The company overtook Tesla as the world's biggest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025, and is expanding overseas. That includes Japan, the world's fourth-biggest auto market, where it launched its Racco electric minicar in July, hoping the small, cost-efficient model can win a place in a market dominated by domestic brands.