'Move would safeguard China’s security, interests': China imposes export curbs on drones, drone parts with potential for military use

China on Wednesday imposed export controls on a range of drones and drone parts with potential military use and exporters could face penalties for exporting items not explicitly banned if they are aware these could be used for military purposes or terrorism.

According to a South China Morning Post report, the list was rolled out by a range of agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce, China Customs and the People’s Liberation Army’s equipment department.

The controlled items include high-precision inertial measurement units, synthetic-aperture radar, and engines with an output exceeding 16 kilowatts, as well as wireless communication systems capable of functioning beyond 50 km (31 miles).

Beijing also categorised drone jammers designed for civilian use, with an effective range of over 5 km, as controlled for export, added the report.

“The Chinese government firmly supports Chinese companies conducting international trade and cooperation of drones in the civilian area [and] oppose civilian drones to be used for non-peaceful means,” South China Morning Post quoted the ministry as saying in a statement explaining the ban.

“We oppose individual countries using (proliferation of weapon-capable) drones as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals,” the statement added.

The statement said the “move would better safeguard China’s security and interests”, and better serve Beijing’s obligation regarding the non-proliferation of weapons while benefiting the security of the global supply chain.

Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said the new list of controls was aimed at preventing “dual-use technologies serving military purposes”.

“We have to regulate the destination of these goods (to ensure) that those engaging in wars cannot import them,” Song told South China Morning Post, adding that the new rules also prevented the “technology transfer” of dual-use drones.

China released a “temporary notice” on the same date last year – July 31 – to ban a series of drones with the potential for military applications.

The revision of the notice implied that the control on the export of drones and drone parts “will persist”, Song said.

He said the revision was motivated in part by the wide use of drones in the war in Ukraine.

“From China’s perspective, we do not want to … add fuel to the fire of the war between Russia and Ukraine. That’s not what we want to see. So we will impose restrictions on the export of these sensitive products," Song added.

With inputs from agencies