Kadena Air Base Bars All BYD Cars

Kadena airbase on Okinawa now blocks every car made by Chinese electric vehicle company BYD from entering its gates. The restriction took effect this week at the installation, which is the largest US air force base in East Asia. Security personnel at the base gates are instructed to stop BYD vehicles and tell drivers to turn around.

The ban covers all BYD models. This includes privately owned cars, taxis, and delivery trucks. Lieut Col Alli Stormer, a spokesperson for the US air force 18th Wing at Kadena, issued a statement on Tuesday. She said the vehicles present an unacceptable and unmitigable risk to personnel and the mission. The military has not identified a specific threat behind the decision.

The move fits into wider efforts by the US and other western nations to restrict Chinese smart technology in devices. Officials fear vehicle-mounted cameras, sensors, and GPS units could leak sensitive information. The Pentagon added BYD to a list of 188 Chinese firms with ties to the country’s military in June. Beijing protested that action. The list also includes Nio, Alibaba, and Baidu.

Kadena holds a strategic position in regional defense planning. It would play a direct role in responding to a crisis involving China, Russia, or North Korea. The base stockpiles the Typhon missile system. That system can fire Tomahawk missiles up to 1,600km. This range puts parts of China and Russia within striking distance. The base also hosts fighter planes, refueling aircraft, and surveillance units.

The US defense department previously banned Huawei and ZTE smartphones at military bases worldwide in 2018 for similar security reasons. China has taken reciprocal steps against US brands. In 2021, Beijing barred Tesla vehicles from some government compounds over camera concerns. It lifted that ban in 2024 after Tesla gained support from the country’s auto industry association.

BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s largest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025. The company is expanding into Japan, the world’s fourth-largest auto market. It launched its Racco electric minicar there in July. The small, cost-efficient vehicle aims to compete with domestic brands. BYD had not publicly responded to the Kadena ban as of Tuesday.