Australia resists US push to ban Chinese cars from military bases
Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia will not ban Chinese-made cars from military sites. The US and other allies have done so.
Australia is not banning Chinese cars from military sites, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday. The US banned BYD cars at Kadena Air Base in Japan because they can film sensitive military areas.
Marles said Australia watches security at its bases. Australia has not banned Chinese cars.
The US did not ask Australia to do so. Poland disables recording features on Chinese cars before they enter military sites.
Switzerland bans connected cars near defence areas. Swiss officials call them "smartphones on wheels" that can share data.
Concerns about Chinese car spying grew after the ABC's Four Corners program in September 2026. It showed risks to data security in these vehicles.
- BYD at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa
- US banned vehicle
- No ban in place, no US request received
- Australia's position
- ABC Four Corners report, September 2026
- Risk awareness event
- Poland, UK, Czechia, Switzerland
- Other countries restricting
Why it mattersConnected vehicles with cameras could give foreign governments real-time information on military movements, personnel and infrastructure.
AustraliaAustralian defence bases remain open to Chinese-made vehicles while allies restrict them, creating a potential intelligence gap.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
