US bans BYD vehicles from Kadena airbase in Okinawa
· World · The Guardian, Hindustan Times
The US military at Kadena airbase in Okinawa banned all BYD electric vehicles, including privately owned cars, taxis and delivery vehicles, effective this week due to security concerns. The restriction applies to all personnel and is part of broader US efforts to limit Chinese smart technology it fears could enable espionage. Kadena, home to the Typhon missile system capable of firing Tomahawk missiles up to 1,600km, hosts fighter jets and surveillance aircraft. The ban follows similar restrictions on Chinese smartphones like Huawei and ZTE at military bases since 2018, with Beijing protesting the US blacklist that includes Nio, Alibaba and Baidu.
Why it matters
This directly affects US military personnel and contractors at a critical Asia-Pacific base, tightening security protocols around Chinese technology amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Read the original report — The Guardian
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