China hit back at the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) ban on new foreign-made drones, accusing the U.S. of “unreasonable suppression” of its businesses.
The FCC’s move will keep new Chinese-made drones such as those from DJI and Autel out of the U.S. market, where they are major players. The FCC said the ban does not prohibit the import or sale of device models that were previously authorized.
The ban follows findings in an FCC review that all drones and critical components produced in foreign countries posed “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”
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Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, told a press briefing on Tuesday that China “firmly opposes the U.S. side’s overextension of the concept of national security, the creation of discriminatory lists, and the unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies,” according to a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency, originally in Chinese.
“The U.S. should correct its erroneous practices and provide a fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies to operate.”
Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement that his FCC “will work closely with U.S. drone makers to unleash American drone dominance,” underscoring the Trump administration’s use of trade restrictions to protect domestic producers in its mission to revive the manufacturing sector.
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A year earlier, Congress passed a defense bill that raised national security concerns about Chinese-made drones, widely used in farming, mapping, law enforcement, and filmmaking across the U.S.
The bill called for stopping the two Chinese companies from selling new drones in the U.S. if a review found they posed a risk to American national security. The deadline for the review was December 23.
The FCC cited upcoming major events, such as the 2026 World Cup, America250 celebrations and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, as reasons to address potential drone threats posed by “criminals, hostile foreign actors, and terrorists.”
Drone Makers Respond in U.S., China
Michael Robbins, president and chief executive officer of AUVSI, the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said in a statement that the industry group welcomes the decision. He said it’s time for the U.S. not only to reduce its dependence on China but build its own drones.
“Recent history underscores why the United States must increase domestic drone production and secure its supply chains,” Robbins said, citing Beijing’s willingness to restrict critical supplies such as rare earth magnets to serve its strategic interests.
DJI said it was disappointed by the FCC decision. “While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination,” it said in a statement.
“Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market,” the company said.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
