China Curbs Drone Exports Amid Escalating Russia-Ukraine, U.S. Trade Tensions

Both military and civilian drones will be affected by the new export controls, which take effect September 1 and will last up to two years.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, August 02, 2023 at 02:49 PM ET

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Chinese-made drones, including DJI’s Phantom (pictured), have reportedly bolstered the Russian war effort in Ukraine. [Courtesy: Emiliano Arano/Pexels]

Key Takeaways:

China has announced new export restrictions on military and high-specification civilian drones, effective September 1st, to prevent their use for "non-peaceful purposes."
The controls target drones with advanced capabilities such as extended flight, heavy payload, or object-throwing attachments, and require exporters to obtain government permission and verify end-user activities.
This move aims to demonstrate China's commitment as a responsible country and address international concerns about the use of Chinese drones in conflicts like Ukraine, while also potentially easing U.S.-China tensions over technology.

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As Russia and Ukraine continue to trade accusations of drone strikes on critical infrastructure, a third party to the ongoing conflict intends to remove its drones from the battlefield.

Several Chinese government agencies on Monday announced the imposition of new restrictions on exports of both military and civilian drones used for “non-peaceful purposes.” While the new controls did not explicitly address the Russia-Ukraine conflict, they could reduce China’s support of the Russian offensive and quell international concerns around its involvement in the war.