China expands export controls on drones with military potential

China is imposing export restrictions on locally made drones that have the potential for military applications.

From September, exporters will require government approval to send the devices overseas, according to an order released on July 31, South China Morning Post reports.

The order said the restrictions would also apply to products that enabled the “proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist activities or military purposes”.

The decision, announced by four agencies including customs and the Ministry of Commerce, was “to safeguard national security and interests”.

It was approved by the State Council and the top military decision-making body, the Central Military Commission (CMC).

China is one of the world’s biggest makers of civilian drones, and some Chinese brands have been used in military conflicts around the world, including in Ukraine where they have been deployed by forces on both sides of the war.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have reportedly used Chinese-made civilian drones for a range of tasks including surveillance and armed strikes.

On Sunday, Russia said it shot down three drones sent by Ukraine and briefly shut the Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow over concerns about the threat from the aircraft.

The new order is an extension of export controls issued in 2015, with a series of more detailed specifications.

For example, the export restrictions now apply to drones that can be controlled manually beyond the range of sight for up to 30 minutes, down from the previous 1-hour limit.

The maximum take-off weight of the drones is limited to less than 7kg (15.4 lbs).

Other features that are banned under the export order include radio equipment that exceeds internationally certified civil power limits, devices that can launch or drop weights, hyper-spectral, multispectral or precision infrared cameras, and high-power laser locators.

Exporters in China will need to apply for permission from the Ministry of Commerce, with evidence of the end users and their ultimate use. For items with “a significant impact on national security”, the ministry will first report to the State Council for approval.

Failure to comply would lead to administrative punishment or even criminal charges, it added.

The export controls are “temporary” and will remain in effect for up to two years.

The new order was also jointly issued by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence and the CMC’s Equipment Development Department.

The involvement of the military agencies highlights the security concerns of the new order. And the elaborated specifications all have strong military implications.

In recent months, Russia has accused Ukraine of launching drone strikes on Russia. In one case on May 3, Russia said two explosive drones targeted the Kremlin.

On July 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said attacks on Russian territory were an “inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process”.