China to impose export controls on some drone-related equipment to prevent use for non-peaceful purposes

 

>>REAL-TIME UPDATES IN THE WIRE. CLICK HERE<<<

 

 

China announced export controls on some drone-related equipment to prevent use of drones for non-peaceful purposes.

The restrictions on equipment including some drone engines, lasers, communication equipment and anti-drone systems would take effect from Sept. 1, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, and the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission said in a joint statement on Monday.

“The risk of some high specification and high-performance civilian unmanned aerial vehicles being converted to military use is constantly increasing,” the statement said.

The control measures are aimed at “preventing use of drones for non-peaceful purposes” and “safeguarding national security and interests”, the ministry said, adding that the measures do not target any specific country.

“Since the crisis in Ukraine, some Chinese civilian drone companies have voluntarily suspended their operations in conflict areas,” it said, accusing the US and Western media of spreading “false information” about Chinese drone exports.

China’s DJI Technology Co., one of the global industry’s top competitors, announced in April 2022 it was pulling out of Russia and Ukraine to prevent its drones from being used in combat.

China has “always opposed the use of civilian drones for military purposes,” it said. “The moderate expansion of drone control by China this time is an important measure to demonstrate the responsibility of a responsible major country.”