US military bans BYD vehicles at Kadena Air Base in Japan over security concerns

Oct 26, 2026

The U.S. military banned all Chinese-made BYD vehicles from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan, citing unmitigable security risks to personnel and missions. Effective October 26, 2026, the order blocks private, taxi, and delivery vehicles at the gates of East Asia's largest U.S. air base. The strategic hub hosts 20,000 Americans and the Typhon missile system capable of striking targets 1,600 km away. The move follows the Pentagon's June 2026 designation of BYD as a Chinese military company amid broader Western security warnings over smart vehicle surveillance capabilities.

BYD vehicle ban at Kadena Air Base

▪The vehicle ban at Kadena Air Base covers all BYD models, including privately owned cars, taxis, delivery trucks, and contractor vehicles.
▪Security personnel stationed at the gates of Kadena Air Base were instructed to block BYD vehicles and order drivers to turn around.
▪The United States Air Force banned all Chinese-made BYD vehicles from entering Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan, effective October 26, 2026.
▪U.S. Air Force 18th Wing commander Brig. Gen. John Gallemore made the decision to ban BYD vehicles after determining they present an unacceptable risk to operations and personnel.

BYD policies at other military bases

▪U.S. military bases on the Korean Peninsula have not banned Chinese-made BYD vehicles from entering their facilities.
▪U.S. Forces Japan spokesman Col. John Severns stated that Kadena is currently the only U.S. military base in Japan enforcing a ban on BYD vehicles.

Military capabilities of Kadena Air Base

▪Kadena Air Base stores the U.S. military's Typhon midrange missile system, which is capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles up to 1,600 kilometers.
▪Kadena Air Base houses fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and aerial refueling planes, alongside approximately $836 million worth of munitions.
▪Kadena Air Base in Okinawa is the largest U.S. Air Force installation in East Asia and hosts approximately 20,000 Americans.

BYD expansion in Japan

▪BYD overtook Tesla in 2025 as the world's largest seller of battery-electric vehicles and launched its Racco electric minicar in Japan in July 2026.
▪BYD opened its first dealership on Okinawa

US designation of BYD as a military company

▪Under the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, U.S. Defense Department prohibitions on doing business with listed Chinese military companies took effect on June 30.
▪The U.S. Department of Defense designated BYD as a Chinese military company due to its affiliations with China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).
▪In June 2026, the U.S. Department of Defense designated BYD alongside 188 other firms on a list of Chinese military companies, prohibiting direct procurement.

U.S. military restrictions on Chinese technology

▪The U.S. Department of Defense designated electric vehicle maker NIO, e-commerce firm Alibaba, and internet company Baidu as Chinese military companies in June 2026.
▪The U.S. Department of Defense banned the sale and use of smartphones from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE at military bases worldwide in 2018.

Western warnings on smart vehicle security

▪In 2025, the United States banned the sale of certain Chinese vehicles, hardware, and software deemed to present national security risks.
▪The Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) issued safety advice in late 2026 warning that smart vehicle GPS, microphones, and cameras could be used by state actors for spying.

Vehicle data collection during military exercise

▪Volvo stated after the Norwegian military exercise that Swedish and European Union privacy laws prevent vehicle data from being transferred to China.
▪During an October 2026 exercise by Norway's Home Guard, rental vehicles captured video, recorded security pad codes, and stored location data of military personnel.

UK Defense sector Chinese EV warnings

▪British defense companies warned employees in 2025 against connecting personal devices to Chinese-manufactured vehicles over data extraction risks.
▪The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence advised personnel in 2025 to refrain from connecting personal devices to Chinese-made electric vehicles over data extraction risks.

Australia's stance on Chinese electric vehicles

▪Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles stated on October 28, 2026, that Australia has not taken steps to ban Chinese electric vehicles at its military bases.
▪Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that the United States has made no request for Australia to restrict Chinese electric vehicles at Australian military installations.

China restrictions on Tesla vehicles

▪Tesla secured an endorsement from China's top automobile industry association in 2024 before Beijing lifted security restrictions on its vehicles.
▪China barred Tesla vehicles from entering certain government compounds in 2021 over security concerns regarding vehicle cameras, before lifting the restriction in 2024.