China Announces Export Control on Drone as More US Curbs on AI and other Key Tech May Come

BEIJING, July 31 (TiPost)— China expanded its export controls to drones after news about further U.S. tech restrictions on China spread.

Credit：Visual China

China will impose export controls on some consumer-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and prohibit exports of all the other consumer UAVs for military purpose, according to a joint announcement from the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) and the Training and Administration Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC). These agencies on Monday also announced export restrictions on equipment of UAVs, including some special engines, lasers, communication equipment and anti-drone systems. All the export control measures will take into effect on September, 1.

The announcements said decision of new export controls were made to protect China’s national security and interests. As a major producer and exporter of drones, China’s decision was made on the complete assessment and the new measures did not target any specific countries and regions, said a spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) late Monday. China has always been committed to maintaining global security and regional stability, and has always opposed the use of civilian drones for military purposes, the spokesperson clarified.  China has gradually implemented export controls on drones since 2002 to make the control scope and technical standards consistent with the international standards, and the moderate expansion of the scope of export controls is an important measure displaying China’s role as a responsible country by practicing the Global Security Initiative and safeguarding world peace, according to the spokesperson.

Chinese drone-making giant DJI said late Monday that it always strictly abides by and enforced laws and regulations regarding export controls of the countries or regions in which it operates, including those in China.

The drone curbs came right after news last week said the Biden administration could ramp up its restrictions on China on the horizon, targeting artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies. U.S. President Joe Biden is planning to sign an executive order to limit critical American technology investments in China by mid-August, Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter. The potential order was reported to focus on semiconductors, AI and quantum computing and only prohibit certain transactions while not affecting any existing investments.

Reports late June have already suggested the U.S. government’s new tech curbs would come soon. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration is considering new curbs on the exports of AI chips to China, including stopping the chip shipments made by U.S. companies to customers in China and other countries concerned without first obtaining a license. Reuters reported the United States and the Dutch are set to deliver a one-two punch to China this summer. While the Netherlands announced new restrictions on exports of certain equipment from ASML and other companies based in the country, U.S. could reportedly introduce new curbs by late July to withhold even more Dutch-made equipments exported to Chinese chipmakers.

China has unveiled export control earlier July. The export control on shipments of some metals that are used in chipmaking as well as defense, communications and green energy will come into effect on August 1. The move, aiming to protect national security, was deemed as the latest response to U.S.’s increasing efforts for more curbs on China’s high-tech industry.

Gallium-related items such as gallium metal, gallium nitride, gallium oxide, gallium phosphide, etc., and germanium-related items such as germanium metal, zone refined ingots, zinc germanium phosphide and germanium dioxide, shall not be exported without permission from August 1, according to an announcement of the Ministry of Commerce.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stressed the export control is “completely legitimate and justified” and it is not used to target any specific country. He pointed out industrial products and materials containing gallium and germanium apparently can be used for both military and civilian purposes, and EU members have also imposed export control over relevant products and materials.

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