Pentagon should reject export licences for Chinese drone maker DJI, US lawmakers say
- The US accuses DJI of complicity in reported oppression of China’s Uygur minority and aiding the Chinese military
- ‘It is time to end Communist China’s weaponisation of American ingenuity,’ congresswoman Elise Stefanik said in a statement
A group of 15 Republican lawmakers on Monday asked the Pentagon to block export licences for US components for Chinese-drone manufacturer DJI, citing national security concerns.
The lawmakers, in a letter to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, said a recent tear down of a DJI drone found US manufactured components, which suggests government approval of export licences.
The letter said the Defence Department “should not be recommending approval of export control licences for US technology that advances DJI capabilities”.
“America’s adversaries are using DJI drones that contain American cutting-edge technology to harm US national security interests,” the letter said.
The Pentagon declined to comment, while the Commerce Department, DJI and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DJI said in July “we have never designed and manufactured products and equipment for military use”.
The letter was signed by lawmakers including congresswoman Elise Stefanik, China select committee chairman Mike Gallagher and senators Marsha Blackburn, Joni Ernst, Marco Rubio and Todd Young.
“It is time to end Communist China’s weaponisation of American ingenuity,” Stefanik said in a statement.
Last month, a bipartisan group of 11 US lawmakers asked the Biden administration to investigate and potentially sanction another Chinese drone maker, Autel Robotics.
Gallagher and the China committees’ top Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi last month introduced legislation seeking to ban the US government from buying Chinese drones.
Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components manufactured in China.
