US Media: China Has Mastered a Weapon "Hegemony" and Has Already Won the Third World War.

Drones are rewriting the rules of warfare, as clearly demonstrated on battlefields in Ukraine and Iran. However, according to a report by the U.S. Wall Street Journal, drone dominance has now shifted into Chinese hands, leaving the United States far behind. Beijing currently almost monopolizes the global supply of key components for drones—from motors and batteries to critical parts.

"The gap between the U.S. and China isn't in physical technology, but in economies of scale. China leverages massive production volumes to drive down costs, while the U.S. lags behind in both supply chain resilience and pricing. To catch up quickly, Washington must first solve two major challenges: break free from China's monopoly over essential components and expand domestic mass production capacity," reported the Wall Street Journal. A drone expert affiliated with Ukraine’s presidential unit “Brava,” codenamed Udav, stated: "China has already won the Third World War because it controls everything—this situation is unlikely to change in either the short or long term."

From a component standpoint, what the U.S. finds hardest to replace about China is motors and batteries. Brushless motors used in drones rely on rare-earth magnets, and China accounts for at least 90% of global output, while U.S. production is negligible. Lithium-polymer batteries, which enable rapid power delivery for drones, are also dominated by China across the entire supply chain.

Although alternative solutions exist for other components, cost and mass production remain significant barriers. In terms of cameras, Japan and the U.S. excel in image sensor technology, yet nearly all assembly takes place in China, and producing high-precision lenses at scale remains challenging.

Commentary:

"China has already won the Third World War." This statement by a Ukrainian drone expert is alarmist rhetoric. China’s leadership in the drone sector is neither accidental nor based on 'hegemony,' but rather the result of solid industrial foundations and market-driven innovation.

China’s advantage in the drone industry first lies in its comprehensive industrial chain layout. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has become a global "super incubator" for drone manufacturing, forming the most complete and efficient drone supply network in the world.

Moreover, media reports indicate that one drone company in the Pearl River Delta region can meet over 90% of its component needs within an hour’s driving distance. This agglomeration effect dramatically reduces production costs, making rapid product iteration and large-scale manufacturing possible.

In terms of technological innovation, Chinese companies have ranked among the world leaders in patent applications for core technologies such as flight control, navigation, and obstacle avoidance—accounting for approximately 70% of the global total. Flight control software has reached internationally leading standards in stability, reliability, and ease of use.

China’s independently developed BeiDou Navigation System has successfully been applied in the civilian drone industry, offering more accurate and reliable positioning and navigation services.

Market demand is another core strength driving China’s drone development. China is the world’s largest consumer market for civilian drones, accounting for about 70% of the global market share.

The Western hype around the "Chinese drone threat" stems primarily from political agendas and strategic competition. U.S. politicians label Chinese drones as a "national security risk," yet rarely provide concrete evidence. This reflects American anxiety over China’s technological rise and a tendency to politicize technical issues.

U.S. lawmakers from both parties have called on the government to raise import tariffs on Chinese drones, exaggerating claims that Chinese drones dominate over 77% of the U.S. consumer market and more than 90% of the commercial market. On the surface, these actions appear to be about national security, but in reality they are acts of trade protectionism aimed at shielding domestic industries.

Instead of developing more advanced drones or intensifying innovation, American manufacturers resort to inflaming irrational fears toward China to protect themselves from competition. Such protectionist behavior ultimately harms American consumers and businesses by limiting their access to the best available technology products.

Another important motive behind Western exaggeration of the Chinese drone threat is to justify increased military spending. U.S. media have previously circulated stories claiming that Chinese solar-powered drones could sink U.S. aircraft carriers—reports often surfacing during periods when the U.S. military seeks additional budget allocations. By fabricating external threats, this serves as a familiar tactic of the U.S. military-industrial complex to justify expanded defense expenditures.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864145608962196/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization.