China Imposes Export Ban on Consumer Drones

China has announced a ban on the export of unregulated civilian drones that could be used for military or terrorist purposes, following increasing Western scrutiny over its stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed that new export controls will take effect on September 1, prohibiting items such as high-precision inertial measurement units and target-indicating lasers. This decision comes amid concerns that Russia has been using Chinese drones in its military operations in Ukraine. The Chinese government has emphasized its opposition to the use of civilian drones for non-peaceful means and criticized individual countries for imposing sanctions under the guise of proliferation concerns. Notably, China remains one of the largest arms exporters globally, raising alarms among U.S. security officials regarding the implications of its drone exports. The measures aim to safeguard China's security interests while adhering to non-proliferation obligations.