The US military has prohibited vehicles produced by the Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD from entering Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, citing security risks. The restriction, which took effect this week, applies to all BYD vehicles, including privately owned cars, taxis and delivery vehicles, according to a statement from the US Air Force’s 18th Wing at Kadena.

Lieutenant Colonel Alli Stormer, a spokesperson for the 18th Wing, described the presence of BYD vehicles on the base as “an unacceptable and unmitigable risk” to both personnel and the mission. Security personnel at the base gates have been instructed to deny entry to any BYD vehicles and to direct drivers away from the facility.

Kadena is the largest US Air Force base in East Asia and plays a strategic role in regional security. It operates advanced weaponry such as the Typhon missile system, which is capable of launching Tomahawk missiles with a range of up to 1,600 kilometers, potentially targeting areas within China and Russia. The base also accommodates fighter jets and provides support for aerial refueling, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.

The ban is part of a broader US and allied effort to restrict the deployment of Chinese smart technologies that could be exploited for intelligence gathering. Although no specific threat has been publicly disclosed, concerns focus on vehicle-installed equipment like cameras, sensors and GPS devices potentially being used to collect sensitive information.

This move follows the Pentagon’s addition of BYD to a list in June of 188 Chinese entities suspected of having military connections, alongside companies such as Nio, Alibaba and Baidu. The US Department of Defense has also previously banned the use and sale of smartphones from Huawei and ZTE on military bases due to security considerations.

China has reciprocated with its own restrictions on certain US-manufactured vehicles. Notably, in 2021, Chinese authorities barred Tesla models from government compounds over concerns about embedded cameras, although that ban was lifted in 2024 after Tesla received a key endorsement by China’s automotive industry association.

BYD, which surpassed Tesla as the world’s largest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025, is expanding its presence internationally, including in Japan’s highly competitive auto market. In July, BYD launched its Racco electric minicar in Japan, targeting consumers seeking affordable, compact electric vehicles in a market dominated by domestic manufacturers. The company has yet to publicly comment on the exclusion from Kadena Air Base.