Escalating Restrictions: US Bans BYD Cars at Kadena Air Base in Japan

US forces have banned entry of vehicles manufactured by the Chinese company BYD to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa Island in southern Japan, claiming they represent an uncontainable security risk, a move reflecting escalating American concerns about the use of Chinese technology to collect sensitive information.

The US Army in Japan announced on Tuesday that the restrictions would take effect during this week, covering all BYD vehicles, including privately owned cars, taxis, and delivery vehicles.

According to "The Guardian," security personnel at the base gates received instructions to prevent these vehicles from entering and to turn their drivers back outside.

Lieutenant Colonel Ali Stormer, spokesperson for the 18th Wing of the US Air Force at Kadena, said these vehicles pose an unacceptable and unmitigable risk to personnel and military missions.

The decision sparked speculation about the potential expansion of measures to include other US military facilities, as part of Washington's moves to restrict the use of Chinese technology suspected of being employed to gather sensitive information.

Fears of Information Leaks

US military officials did not specify a particular threat behind the ban decision, but the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported that the step is linked to fears of potential information leaks via technologies embedded in cars, such as cameras, sensors, and global positioning systems.

These measures come within a broader trend among the United States and other Western countries to restrict certain Chinese technologies used in cars, mobile phones, and smart devices, amid fears of their possible use in espionage activities or user data collection.

Kadena Air Base holds strategic importance as the largest US Air Force base in East Asia, and a key facility that could play a direct role in responding to crises involving China, Russia, or North Korea.

The base houses the Typhoon missile system, which is reportedly capable of launching Tomahawk missiles up to 1600 kilometers; placing parts of China and Russia within its range. It also hosts fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft, as well as surveillance and reconnaissance planes.

Escalating Restrictions on Chinese Technology

Last June, the US Department of Defense added BYD to a list of 188 Chinese companies that Washington believes are linked to the Chinese military, a decision that provoked Beijing's protest.

The list also includes car manufacturer Nio, and e-commerce and technology companies Alibaba and Baidu.

The US Department of Defense previously banned the sale and use of smartphones belonging to Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE inside military bases worldwide in 2018, citing similar security concerns.

In response, China imposed restrictions on US-made Tesla cars; banning them from entering some government complexes in 2021 due to concerns related to their installed cameras.

Beijing lifted these restrictions in 2024, after the company obtained approval from the country's leading automotive industry association.

BYD has not issued an immediate public comment on the ban of its cars at Kadena Air Base, according to the report.

BYD's Expansion Outside China

The decision comes at a time when the Chinese company is strengthening its presence in global markets. BYD surpassed Tesla to become the world's largest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025.

The company continues to expand its overseas operations, including in the Japanese market, which is the fourth largest car market in the world. In July, BYD launched its small electric car Racco, aiming to establish a foothold in a market dominated by local brands.

The ban on the company's cars inside Kadena Air Base places the issue of technology associated with smart vehicles at the heart of US security concerns, amid continuing mutual restrictions between Washington and Beijing on products and technologies belonging to each side.