Bid to block US export licences for drone firm DJI
A group of 15 Republican lawmakers have asked the Pentagon to block export licences for US components for Chinesedrone manufacturer DJI, citing national security concerns.
The Commerce Department in December 2020 added DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, to the government’s export control list, accusing it of complicity in reported oppression of China’s Uygur minority and aiding the Chinese military.
The lawmakers, in a letter to
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, said a recent dismantling of a DJI drone found US manufactured components, which suggested government approval of export licences.
The letter said the Defence Department “should not be recommending approval of export control licences for US technology that advances DJI capabilities”.
“America’s adversaries are using DJI drones that contain American cutting-edge technology to harm US national security interests,” the letter said.
The Pentagon declined to comment, while the Commerce
Department, DJI and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DJI said in July it had “never designed and manufactured products and equipment for military use”.
The letter was signed by lawmakers including congresswoman Elise Stefanik, China select committee chairman Mike Gallagher and senators Marsha Blackburn, Joni Ernst, Marco Rubio and Todd Young.
“It is time to end Communist China’s weaponisation of American ingenuity,” Stefanik said.
More than 50 per cent of drones sold in the United States are made by DJI, and they are the most popular drones in use by public safety agencies, Republican lawmakers said earlier this year.
Last month, a bipartisan group of 11 US lawmakers asked President Joe Biden’s administration to investigate and potentially sanction another Chinese drone maker, Autel Robotics.
Gallagher and the China committees’ top Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi last month introduced legislation seeking to ban the US government from buying Chinese drones.
Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components manufactured in China.