U.S. bans Chinese-made drones over national security concerns, citing risks of espionage and attacks – NaturalNews.com

• The FCC has prohibited new Chinese-made drones (DJI, Autel) from entering the U.S. market, citing national security risks like espionage, cyberattacks and infrastructure sabotage. Existing drones remain operational, but future models require U.S. government exemptions.
• DJI controls 80% of the global commercial drone market, supported by China’s Made in China 2025 initiative and heavy government R&D funding. U.S. officials warn that Chinese drones could map critical infrastructure (military bases, power plants) for exploitation by the Chinese Communist Party.
• The FCC highlighted risks of drone-based attacks during high-profile events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America250 and 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Concerns include unauthorized surveillance, data theft and weaponized drone strikes by hostile actors.
• Security advocates support the ban, while businesses relying on affordable Chinese drones fear economic disruption. U.S. drone manufacturers (e.g., Hylio) see an opportunity but criticize the FCC’s broad approach. DJI accuses the U.S. of protectionism, claiming no evidence supports security allegations.
• The ban aligns with U.S. efforts to decouple from Chinese tech dominance (e.g., Huawei, TikTok, semiconductor restrictions). China’s Foreign Ministry condemns the move as “discriminatory” and warns of harm to global trade.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has moved to ban new foreign-made drones, effectively locking Chinese manufacturers DJI and Autel out of the U.S. market due to national security risks.

The decision, announced Monday, Dec. 22, follows an interagency review ordered by Congress, which concluded that foreign drones pose “unacceptable risks” to American security, including potential espionage, cyberattacks and infrastructure sabotage.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the ban aims to “unleash American drone dominance” while protecting U.S. airspace from exploitation by adversaries. The FCC warned that foreign-made drones could be weaponized for “attacks and disruptions, unauthorized surveillance, sensitive data exfiltration and other UAS [unmanned aircraft system] threats to the homeland.”

The agency specifically highlighted concerns about upcoming major events—such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America250 celebrations and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles—as potential targets for drone-based attacks orchestrated by “criminals, hostile foreign actors and terrorists.”

China’s dominance in drone technology

DJI, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, controls nearly 80% of the global commercial drone market, with its products widely used in U.S. agriculture, law enforcement, filmmaking and infrastructure inspection. Autel Robotics, another major Chinese manufacturer, also holds significant market share.

BrightU.AI‘s Enoch explains that China’s ascendancy in the drone technology market is a result of a combination of strategic planning, government support and market dynamics. The factors contributing to China’s dominance in this sector include the Made in China 2025 initiative, which aims to transform China into a global manufacturing powerhouse by upgrading its industrial base and promoting high-value, high-tech industries. The Chinese government has invested heavily in drone technology, providing substantial funding for research and development, manufacturing and infrastructure. This support has enabled Chinese companies to rapidly advance their drone capabilities.

The FCC’s decision comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over technological dominance. Lawmakers have long warned that DJI drones could be leveraged by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to map U.S. critical infrastructure, including military bases, power plants and communications networks.

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-ARK), chair of the House Intelligence Committee, emphasized the risks: “The CCP can leverage this technology to map out every square inch of our country, including our most critical assets, many of which impact a wide range of industries vital to Americans’ daily lives.”

Mixed reactions from industry and lawmakers

While national security hawks applauded the FCC’s move, businesses reliant on affordable, high-performance Chinese drones expressed concern. Gene Robinson, a Texas-based drone operator who trains law enforcement agencies, lamented the economic impact: “Now, we are paying the price. To get back to where we had the independence, there will be some growing pains. We need to suck it up, and let’s not have it happen again.”

Meanwhile, American drone manufacturers like Hylio see an opportunity to fill the gap. CEO Arthur Erickson welcomed the shift but criticized the FCC’s broad approach: “The way it’s written is a blanket statement. There’s a global allied supply chain. I hope they will clarify that.”

DJI pushed back against the ban, accusing the U.S. of protectionism and lacking evidence for its claims: “Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market.”

A new front in the tech war

The FCC’s ban aligns with broader U.S. efforts to decouple from Chinese tech dominance, mirroring previous restrictions on Huawei, TikTok and semiconductor exports.

Michael Robbins of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) argued that the move is necessary to secure U.S. supply chains.

“Recent history underscores why the United States must increase domestic drone production and secure its supply chains,” Robbins said, referencing China’s past restrictions on medical supplies and rare earth minerals.

China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the decision, calling it “discriminatory” and harmful to global trade. Spokesperson Liu Pengyu accused Washington of “overstretching the concept of national security” to suppress foreign competition.

The FCC’s ban does not affect existing drones already in use, meaning current DJI and Autel models remain operational. However, future models will require exemptions from the Department of War or Department of Homeland Security before entering the U.S. market.

As the U.S. seeks to rebuild its domestic drone industry, questions linger about whether American manufacturers can match China’s affordability and technological edge. Meanwhile, the geopolitical stakes continue to rise—with drones emerging as the latest battlefield in the U.S.-China tech cold war.

The FCC’s ban on Chinese-made drones underscores growing fears of espionage, cyber warfare and infrastructure sabotage—concerns amplified by China’s dominance in drone technology. While the move aims to bolster U.S. security and domestic manufacturing, it also risks disrupting industries reliant on cost-effective foreign drones.

As tensions escalate, one thing is clear: The race for drone supremacy is now a critical front in the broader struggle for technological and geopolitical dominance.

Watch the video below about U.S. critical infrastructure and law enforcement agencies buying and using Chinese spy drones to surveil America.

This video is from the American Patriots God Country channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

APNews.com

POLITICO.com

Euronews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com