Suddenly! China's announcement on export control of drones is clear, and some countries should listen to it.

　　Foreword:

　　On July 31, our government announced stricter control over the export of civilian drones, which will have a far-reaching impact on the global drone market, especially on the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. Many media analysts believe that China imposed export control on UAVs under the pressure of the West. Is this really the case?

　　Sudden control

　　This regulation was jointly announced by the Ministry of Commerce of China and three related departments on July 31st. In order to control the export of civil UAVs more strictly, the export control of UAVs will start for two years on September 1st. The release of this new regulation indicates that the China government has further raised its vigilance in the management of UAV export, and shows its deep concern for UAV technology and industrial chain.

　　In the announced control content, what types of drones will be included in the export control scope are listed in detail. These include those drones that can operate outside the operator's sight; Drones with a battery life of more than 30 minutes mean that the range of activities and action time of these drones in the air have been greatly improved; The take-off weight and empty weight of unmanned aerial vehicles are also specified, and models with body weight greater than 4KG and take-off weight greater than 7KG are in the restricted ranks.

　　In addition, there are also clear regulations on the radio equipment carried by drones, and those drones whose power exceeds civilian standards will also be included in the scope of control. Moreover, for UAVs with hyperspectral cameras, they will also be regulated because of their strong detection and monitoring capabilities.

　　Finally, whether the UAV has the potential of DIY modification is also one of the key points of control. Specifically, if the UAV can support non-certified payloads, that is, it has the possibility of being modified by itself to carry other equipment or perform other functions, then this UAV will also be included in the control list. In addition, drones capable of carrying laser ranging equipment will also be regulated because they may have more advanced mapping and positioning capabilities.

　　So why did China suddenly introduce this ban? Is it related to the pressure from the west?

　　1. Reasons for restricting exports

　　Among the reasons for the export control of drones, the military potential of drones and the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine are undoubtedly the most important factors. In the past few years, civilian UAVs made in China have been widely used all over the world, and in many cases, these UAVs have played a key role in military and war conflicts.

　　Especially in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, the UAV made in China provided important detection and guidance functions, which had a far-reaching impact on the war situation. In many wars and conflicts, drones are no longer just a high-tech toy, but have become a part of the war. The reconnaissance ability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and all kinds of equipment it can carry make it play an important role in military operations.

　　In the conflict between China and Russia, there is obvious evidence that the UAV made in Russia played a key role in this war. These drones provide high-quality reconnaissance information to help decision makers better understand the battlefield situation in order to make correct decisions.

　　Although UAV is playing an increasingly important role in military operations, its use has also caused a series of moral and legal problems. For example, who should be responsible for monitoring the use of these drones? How to prevent drones from being maliciously used for illegal military operations? How to ensure compliance with international law and humanitarian law in the process of using drones?

　　In order to solve these problems, the government of China decided to strictly control the export of unmanned aerial vehicles. This is not only to curb the militarization of drones, but also to comply with international rules and prevent drones from being illegally used in military operations.

　　By introducing this regulation, the China government hopes to effectively control the spread of UAV technology and prevent the UAV from being abused in wars and conflicts, instead of being forced to yield to the pressure from the West.

　　The aftereffects of restrictive policies

　　With the implementation of China's control policy on UAV export, the supply of UAVs on both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict will be greatly reduced. Both Ukraine and Russia will face the shortage of drones, which will directly affect their military strategies and tactical choices in the conflict. The shortage of drones will also increase their risks on the battlefield and reduce their war effectiveness.

　　More importantly, the shortage of drones may prompt both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict to seek a more peaceful solution. After all, without the support of drones, their advantages on the battlefield will be greatly reduced, which may make them reconsider whether they should resolve disputes through peaceful negotiations instead of force.

　　However, this has caused a problem, that is, behind Ukraine, with the support of the western NATO group, there is a steady supply of drones even if it is not imported from China.

　　Russia's own UAV manufacturing level is not high. If the import channels are cut off, it will encounter difficulties on the battlefield. This is also the reason why many media commented that this ban was introduced under the pressure of the West, but we must know that, like germanium and gallium, UAVs only restrict exports, not prohibit exports. As long as the procedures are complete and the use is clear, none of the business that should be done will fall.