The Ministry of Commerce Photo: VCG

China on Wednesday further optimized export controls on drones, requiring exporters to seek approval for certain drones and related equipment, and banning exports of all civilian drones that are intended for military purposes.

The move is in line with international practices and shows China's responsible efforts to curb the illegal use of civilian drones for non-peaceful purposes amid conflicts in certain parts of the world, where drones are increasingly used for military purposes, experts said.

Chinese drone exports are intended for civilian purposes, and accusations made by certain countries against Chinese drones are baseless, experts noted.

In a notice, three departments, including the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said that the move to adjust export controls on certain drones and related items was aimed at safeguarding national security. 

Drones that have engines with a maximum continuous power of more than 16 kilowatts, as well as lasers, infrared imaging, radar and radio equipment that meet certain specifications must gain approval from authorities before they can be exported, the notice read. 

For all unmanned aerial vehicles that are not included in the export control list or that are not subject to temporary controls, exporters will be prohibited from selling them abroad if they become aware that these drones may be used for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist activities or military purposes, the notice went on to explain.

The new export controls will take effect on Thursday, according to the notice issued by the MOFCOM, the General Administration of Customs and the Equipment Development Department of China's Central Military Commission.

The adjustments came one year after China announced export controls on certain drones. 

The MOFCOM said on Wednesday that China had notified relevant countries and regions about the adjustments, and it is an international practice to impose export controls on high-performance drones that have certain military attributes.

The ministry explained that in recent years, drone technology had developed rapidly, and its application scenarios had continued to expand, and the risk of some high-standard and high-performance civilian drones being converted to military use had continued to rise. 

"As a major producer and exporter of drones, China has decided to moderately expand export controls on drones based on full evaluation and demonstration, and this does not target any specific country or region," the MOFCOM said.

Experts said that the new adjustments showed China's improved capability in managing exports of drones that could be used for non-civilian purposes, as the export controls target equipment that could be converted for non-civilian use, including infrared imaging.

"China's export controls on such equipment reflect a sense of responsibility, especially as international military conflicts intensify," Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Wang further noted that Chinese drone exports are primarily intended for civilian purposes and accusations made by certain Western countries that Chinese dronemakers knowingly export their products for non-civilian purposes are baseless.

Some US politicians have long made accusations against Chinese dronemakers, including DJI, and have even sought to impose sanctions against Chinese firms and individuals. In a latest move, the US on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five people and seven companies in China and Iran, accusing them of aiding Iran's ballistic missile and drone programs.

The MOFCOM said on Wednesday that the Chinese government firmly supports Chinese companies in the international trade and cooperation of drones in the civilian field, opposes the illegal use of civilian drones for non-peaceful purposes, and opposes the frequent use of drones as an excuse by individual countries to impose illegal sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals.

In a statement sent to the Global Times on Wednesday, DJI said it has made it absolutely clear that "our products are for civilian use only. We have never designed, developed or manufactured military-grade equipment, we have never adapted our products or pursued business opportunities for combat operations; we have never marketed or sold our products for combat use in any country."

The firm said that it will strictly comply with and implement China's export control regulations, and the applicable laws and regulations of the countries and regions where it operates, noting that the adjustments are expected to be more favorable for the development and technology application of the entire drone industry.