U.S. military bans Chinese-made BYD cars from key air base in Okinawa

The U.S. military has restricted vehicles made by the Chinese car manufacturer BYD from its sprawling Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture over security concerns about the vehicles.

The ban, which took effect Monday, currently only affects Kadena — one of the largest U.S. Air Force installations in the region.

The U.S. Forces in Japan did not specifically explain what prompted the move, and officials with the Kadena base did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Installation commanders are responsible for protecting their people, facilities, and assigned missions and may implement lawful, risk-informed security measures necessary to mitigate credible threats,” USFJ spokesperson Col. John Severns said.

The ban comes as the U.S. and other Western countries have been tightening their security messaging following concerns about the smart technology used by Chinese-owned car brands such as BYD, MG and Jaecoo.

In safety advice issued in late September, the Dutch government warned that vehicles’ modern technology — including GPS, microphones, cameras, entertainment systems and Bluetooth connections — could be used for spying by state actors.

Last year, the U.S. also issued a ban on the sale of some Chinese vehicles and related hardware and software if it was deemed they could be a national security risk.

Smart vehicles have raised particular security questions for governments, given the amount of information that app developers, manufacturers and companies can access. This data is valuable to external parties or state actors who could receive the data from companies or obtain it via illegal means like hacking.

In June, the Pentagon added BYD to a blacklist of 188 “Chinese military companies” banning direct procurement or contracting with the firms.

It was not clear whether the BYD ban will be extended to other U.S. bases in Japan.

The Kadena Air Base is a crucial hub for U.S. military operations in the region. The U.S. military’s Typhon midrange missile system — believed capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles as far as 1,600 kilometers — is currently being stored at the base after it was deployed for joint military exercises earlier this year.

The decision to “temporarily” store the weapon there, effectively putting parts of China within striking distance, has prompted outrage in Beijing.