US Air Force bans BYD vehicles from Okinawa base over security concerns
NAHA, Japan (Kyodo) -- U.S. Air Force's combat wing at Kadena Air Base in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture said Monday it has banned vehicles made by China'
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.
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