U.S. Air Force to Ban BYD Vehicles on Kadena Base in Okinawa
Naha, Okinawa Pref., Oct. 27 (Jiji Press)--The U.S. Air Force's 18th Wing in Okinawa Prefecture is set to ban automobiles made by Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD Co. from entering the Kadena Air Base in the southernmost Japan prefecture, it has been learned. Such vehicles could pose an unacceptable risk to personnel and missions of the Kadena-based air wing, its public relations head sai...
U.S. Air Force combat wing at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture has prohibited vehicles manufactured by China's BYD automaker from the base, citing security concerns. The decision, reportedly aimed at preventing potential information leaks via vehicle-mounted cameras and sensors, could extend to U.S. military installations in South Korea and beyond, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Lieutenant Colonel Alli Stormer, the 18th Wing's chief of public affairs, stated in a declaration that the vehicles pose an "unacceptable and unmitigable risk" to personnel and mission objectives, although the precise risks were not elaborated upon. Kadena Air Base serves as a pivotal strategic hub for countering threats from China, Russia, and North Korea.
In June, the U.S. Defense Department included BYD in a list of companies allegedly linked to the Chinese military, a move that met with protests from China's Commerce Ministry.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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