Starting September 1, China will ban the export of all civilian drones that can be used for military purposes. The decision was made amid repeated suspicions by Western countries that Beijing supports Russia’s military efforts against Ukraine, Hromadske reports.
This was informed by Reuters and the Associated Press.
The export control will also include infrared lasers for targeting and high-precision inertial measurement equipment.
The Ministry of Commerce of China emphasized that these changes will help protect the national security and interests of the country. They will also help ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
At the same time, the ministry announced that it was also lifting temporary restrictions on the export of civilian drones. The ministry did not specify what type of drones were involved, but in 2023, China restricted the export of long-range drones, citing the Russian-Ukrainian war.
DJI Technology, China’s leading drone manufacturer, said it welcomed the changes to export controls, which it believes will help the industry grow. The Chinese manufacturer emphasized that its products have always been intended for civilian use only.
In July, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba paid a visit to China. He said that his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi lasted three hours. According to Kuleba, Beijing agrees that Ukraine needs a just and sustainable peace, not an illusion of it.
