China bans drone export intended for military purposes

China on Wednesday further optimized export control measures for drones, requiring exporters to seek the approval for certain drones and related equipment and banning the export of all civilian drones that are intended for military purposes.

In a notice, three Chinese departments, including the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said that the move to adjust export control measures on certain drones and related items was aimed at safeguarding national security.

Drones that have engines with maximum continuous power of over 16 kilowatts, as well as lasers, infrared imaging, radar and radio equipment that meet certain specifications must gain the approval from authorities before they can be exported, the notice read.

For all unmanned aerial vehicles that are not included in the export control list or that are not subject to temporary control, exporters will be prohibited from selling abroad if they become aware that these drones will be used for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist activities, or military purposes, the notice said.

The new export control measures will take effect on September 1, 2024, according to the notice jointly issued by MOFCOM, the General Administration of Customs and the Equipment Development Department of China's Central Military Commission.

The adjustments came one year after China announced export control measures on certain drones in July 2023.

MOFCOM said on Wednesday that China had notified relevant countries and regions about the adjustments and it is an international practice to impose export controls on high-performance drones that have certain military attributes.

The ministry further explained that in recent years, drone technology has developed rapidly, and its application scenarios continued to expand, and the risks of some high-standard and high-performance civilian drones being converted to military use continue to rise.

"As a major producer and exporter of drones, China has decided to moderately expand export controls on drones based on thorough evaluation and demonstration, and this does not target any specific country or region," MOFCOM said.

The Chinese government firmly supports Chinese companies in the international trade and cooperation of drones in the civilian field, opposes the illegal use of civilian drones for non-peaceful purposes, and opposes the frequent use of drones as an excuse by individual countries to impose illegal sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals, the ministry said.