China placed export limitations on selected drones and drone-related equipment on Monday, citing the need to protect “national security and interests” amid rising tensions with the US over technological access.
According to Reuters, the Commerce Ministry announced that on September 1st, there would be limits on some drone engines, lasers, communication devices, and anti-drone systems.
A ministry official said in a statement that the regulations would also apply to select consumer drones and that no civilian drones may be shipped for military use.
“China’s modest expansion of drone control this time is an important step to show our stance as a major power, to carry out global security initiatives, and to uphold world peace,” a spokesperson said.
China has a significant drone manufacturing sector and exports to many countries, including the United States.
According to U.S. politicians, a Chinese corporation, DJI, manufactures more than 50% of the drones sold in the country and is the most often utilized drone by public safety organizations.
On Monday, DJI declared that it consistently adhered to and upheld the rules and regulations of the countries or areas in which it operated, including China’s export control regulatory requirements.
The drone manufacturer continued, “We have never developed or produced tools or products for military use, nor have we ever advertised or sold our tools or products for use in military operations or wars in any nation.
In March 2022, a German store accused DJI of providing information to Russia on Ukrainian military deployments, which the firm dismissed as “utterly false.”
In April this year, China’s commerce ministry said that U.S. and Western media were circulating “unfounded accusations” that it was shipping drones to the Ukrainian conflict.
The ministry added that the claims were an effort to “smear” Chinese companies and that it would continue to tighten export restrictions on drones.
The United States made efforts to limit China’s access to crucial technologies, such as chipmaking machinery, which led to China announcing export bans of several metals widely used in chip manufacturing last month.
