[By Observer.com, Zhang Jingjuan] In order to safeguard national security and interests, China tightened its export controls on drones in September last year. According to a report by Nikkei Asia on the 24th, since then, the prices of drone components shipped from China to the United States have tripled or even more in some cases. A French buyer told the Financial Times that European manufacturers' technology lags behind China's, "We tried to produce European drones, but we could not reach the same level of technology as China."

The Chinese government issued an announcement in July 2024 regarding the optimization and adjustment of drone export control measures, and the new regulations have been in effect since September of the same year. The regulated products include engines and motors that drive drones, lasers used for target indication, and electronic jamming equipment against drones.

Data from the General Administration of Customs of China shows that the export volume of certain infrared imaging equipment used to detect surface temperature of objects has significantly decreased. After being installed on drones, this equipment can detect thermal radiation of objects at night and form images. In civil use, it can be used for searching people at night or in mountainous areas, or checking solar panels.

From September 2024 to April 2025, the export volume of infrared imaging equipment from China fell by about 30% compared to the same period last year, but the total export value increased by nearly 50%. Under tight supply and demand conditions, unit prices doubled. The export volume to the largest export market, the United States, fell by about 60%, while the unit price increased by 3.5 times.

Other drone components were also affected. The global export volume of inertial measurement devices (a sensor required for stable flight) dropped by 80%, while the unit price quadrupled. The unit price of drone DC motors increased by about 30%, and that of AC motors increased by 16%.

American farmers use DJI drones for sowing, AP

According to another report by the Financial Times, under China's drone export controls, component prices have surged. A French military drone manufacturer seeking to import thermal imaging cameras from China received a quote twice the previous price.

This French buyer said he heavily relies on Chinese components. He estimated that European manufacturers are three years behind Chinese manufacturers. "We tried to produce European drones, but we could not reach the same level of technology as China."

Data from the drone market research firm Drone Industry Insights shows that 70% to 80% of commercial drones worldwide are manufactured in China, and they dominate key component production such as sensors and speed controllers.

A report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in December last year pointed out that DJI Innovation Technology is the world's largest commercial drone manufacturer, holding 90% of the U.S. commercial drone market.

Chinese drones are not only cheaper but also significantly technologically superior to American drones. However, as Chinese drones become popular in the United States, some U.S. politicians have begun to unjustly accuse Chinese drones.

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Defense banned the use of DJI drones by the military on the grounds of so-called "data security risks," imposing a one-year sanction; in 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce again announced that it would add several Chinese companies, including DJI, to the export control "Entity List" on the grounds of "violating U.S. national security"; in March last year, the U.S. "China Commission" called on the U.S. government to impose higher tariffs on Chinese drones, including those transshipped through other countries into the United States, and take new incentive measures to promote the development of U.S. drone manufacturers. Currently, most federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, are prohibited from purchasing DJI products.

Regarding the U.S. accusations and related sanctions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has previously clearly stated its firm opposition to the U.S. generalization of the concept of national security, setting up various discriminatory lists, and unjustly suppressing Chinese companies, thus undermining normal Sino-U.S. economic and trade cooperation.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519431381546566156/

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