One of the largest American military installations overseas has prohibited vehicles manufactured by Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD. The restriction took effect this week at Kadena airbase on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.
Lieutenant Colonel Alli Stormer, a spokesperson for the US air force 18th Wing at Kadena, addressed the decision in an official statement. She stated that these vehicles present an unacceptable and unmitigable risk to personnel and the mission.
The ban has raised expectations that similar restrictions might follow at other US military installations. Washington continues a broader campaign to limit Chinese technology that officials suspect could gather sensitive intelligence.
American military officials have not pointed to a specific threat. The prohibition forms part of wider efforts by the United States and other Western nations to restrict Chinese smart technology in mobile phones, vehicles, and other hardware over espionage concerns.
Potential information leaks through vehicle-mounted components such as cameras, GPS devices, and sensors drove the security measure. The Pentagon placed BYD onto a roster of 188 Chinese companies with alleged military ties in June, prompting a formal protest from Beijing. The same blacklist features e-commerce giant Alibaba, internet firm Baidu, and automaker Nio.
Kadena stands as the largest US air force base in East Asia. The facility would play a direct role in any conflict involving North Korea, China, or Russia.
The base houses fighter jets alongside surveillance, reconnaissance, and mid-air refuelling aircraft. Its inventory also contains the Typhon missile system, which can deploy Tomahawk missiles up to 1,600 kilometres away and place parts of Russia and China within striking distance.
Washington previously banned smartphones from Chinese firms ZTE and Huawei at military bases globally in 2018. China has enacted similar prohibitions against American-made Tesla vehicles, barring them from government compounds in 2021 due to onboard cameras before lifting the restriction in 2024.
BYD surpassed Tesla to become the top global seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025. The firm is pursuing international expansion, including the Japanese market, where it introduced its Racco electric minicar in July.
