China introduces export controls on drones and parts that may have military applications

Controlled components include precision inertial measurement units, synthetic aperture radar and motors with power outputs greater than 16 kilowatts, as well as wireless communications with a range of more than 50 km (31 miles).

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Restrictions will also apply to consoles that can control more than 10 drones at the same time, as well as drone signal jammers intended for civilian use with an effective range of more than 5 km.

The directive issued on Wednesday states that Chinese exporters will face penalties for exporting goods not listed in the ban if they know they will be used for military or terrorist purposes.

“The Chinese government firmly supports Chinese companies conducting international drone trade and cooperation in the civilian area, and opposes the use of civilian drones for anything other than peaceful purposes,” the ministry said in a statement explaining the ban.

But in an overt criticism of U.S. sanctions, the document also said: “We oppose the imposition by some countries of illegal sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals, citing (the proliferation of drones capable of delivering weapons).”

The statement said the move would better safeguard China’s security and interests and better serve Beijing’s non-proliferation commitment, while also benefiting the security of the global supply chain.

The directive comes a day after the U.S. Treasury Department added several individuals and entities based in mainland China and Hong Kong to its sanctions list for purchasing key components, “including accelerometers and gyroscopes,” for Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.

This comes after DJI, the largest drone manufacturer based in Shenzhen, was banned from using US communications infrastructure under the “Chinese Communist Party Counter-Drone Act,” part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act passed by the US Congress in mid-July.

China is one of the largest civilian drone manufacturers in the world, and some Chinese products are often used in armed conflicts around the world, such as the war in Ukraine.

Both Russia and Ukraine have reportedly used Chinese “civilian drones” for various purposes, including surveillance, communications, strikes, and suicide attacks.

The United States and its allies have accused China of supplying key dual-use parts, including drone parts, to the Russian arms industry, describing China as a “decisive helper.”

That same month, Italian authorities intercepted and confiscated two Chinese-made military drones that were allegedly bound for Libya and were disguised as wind turbine equipment.

Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said Beijing’s new control list aims to prevent “dual-use technologies serving military purposes.”

“We need to regulate the destination of these goods (to ensure) that parties involved in wars cannot import them,” he said, adding that the new rules also prevent the “technology transfer” of dual-use drones.

China issued a “temporary announcement” on the same day last year – July 31 – banning drone series with potential for military applications.

The notice included export controls on certain specifications of civilian drones—considered potentially military—for “security reasons.” It required special government approvals for drones with a maximum beyond-line-of-sight operating time of more than 30 minutes and a maximum takeoff weight of more than 7 kg (15 lbs).

Drones are also prohibited from carrying powerful radio receivers, advanced cameras, payload-dropping or throwing devices, laser locators or any other “unverified payload.”

Song said the revised notice suggested that export controls on drones and drone parts “will be maintained.”

He added that the search was partly motivated by the extensive use of drones during the war in Ukraine.

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“From China’s perspective, we don’t want to… add fuel to the fire of war between Russia and Ukraine. That’s not what we want. That’s why we will impose restrictions on the export of these sensitive products.”

According to official customs data, the biggest buyers of Chinese drones in 2023 were the Netherlands, the US and Denmark, with Russia coming in at 130th place.

According to official data from the Chinese customs service, some of the key components, such as radars and infrared thermal imaging cameras, exported to Russia accounted for a small share of the export.

A statement from the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday said the latest export controls were an optimization of last year’s measures introduced after taking into account the views of a wide range of stakeholders and a thorough assessment of the situation.

The statement said China will “continue to monitor and evaluate the drone export situation and make changes and improvements on an ongoing basis” to its policy.