US China Tech War: US House Panel wants to ban government from buying Chinese drones

In an effort to address concerns over national security, the House of Representatives China committee is set to introduce a bill this Wednesday that would prohibit the United States government from acquiring Chinese-made drones.

The legislation is known as the American Security Drone Act and is backed by Mike Gallagher, the Republican head of the committee, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, the top Democrat. The bill comes as a continuation of a bipartisan push by lawmakers on Capitol Hill to curtail the use of Chinese technology in ways that critics argue could undermine US national security.

The American Security Drone Act mirrors a similar piece of legislation in the Senate, which was introduced by Mark Warner, the Democratic head of the intelligence committee, and Republican Senator Rick Scott. Notably, the Senate has included this measure in its version of the defence bill. However, it must be reconciled with the House version, which currently lacks any language to ban the purchase of Chinese drones.

While the bill doesn’t specify particular companies, it takes direct aim at Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, which stands as the world’s largest producer of commercial drones. DJI’s products are widely used across various sectors in the United States, from photographers to local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, this bill would also impact the Chinese group Autel, which holds 7.8 per cent of the US commercial drone market, following DJI’s dominant 58 per cent market share, according to drone analyst David Benowitz.

The primary aim of the House China committee’s bill is to draw greater attention to the issue, making it more challenging for lawmakers to oppose the broader effort. Mike Gallagher, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, underscored the urgency of the legislation, stating, “It is imperative that Congress pass this bipartisan bill to protect US interests and our national security supply chain.”

In the past, the Senate has attempted to include language addressing Chinese drones in the annual defense bill. However, these efforts have not made it into the final legislation passed by Congress.

DJI, the prominent Chinese drone manufacturer, has expressed its opposition to legislation that restricts market choice or bans technology based on its country of origin. Adam Welsh, DJI’s head of global policy, argued that limiting access to their drones would have implications for safety and could negatively impact small businesses that rely on DJI’s products and related software. Welsh further emphasized that DJI’s products have undergone extensive testing by government agencies and can be operated securely without an internet connection.

Notably, DJI has garnered support from US police agencies in the past, who have contended that there are no domestically available cost-effective alternatives.

The bill, which has bipartisan support and is cosigned by Virginia Republican Rob Wittman and Connecticut Democrat Joe Courtney, would also prevent local and state governments from purchasing Chinese drones using federal grants.

Lawmakers have become increasingly aware of the security risks associated with Chinese drones, especially after their deployment in the Ukrainian conflict. Michael Robbins, head of advocacy for the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, noted that while the technological gap between DJI and US-made drones has narrowed, American companies face a disadvantage due to Chinese subsidies.

Eric Sayers, an Asia security expert, expressed optimism about potential congressional action this year, but cautioned that it might still include waivers for federal agencies to continue using drones from the People’s Republic of China.

In recent years, the Trump administration placed DJI on the “entity list,” restricting the sale of US technology to the company without a license. The Biden administration later added DJI to a Treasury Department investment blacklist, citing concerns about its alleged support for the surveillance of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

The Chinese embassy responded to these developments, urging the US to abandon a “cold war mentality” and cease unwarranted suppression of Chinese companies.

This bill, along with its Senate counterpart, underscores ongoing efforts by US lawmakers to address concerns about national security, Chinese technology, and the role of Chinese companies in the American market.

(With input from agencies)