World drone leader DJI said it will strictly comply with China’s new export controls aimed at homemade UAVs.
In responding to inquiries from Global Times, a nationalist tabloid, the Shenzhen headquartered company said as a globalized firm, DJI has been consistently acting in accordance with the country’s export controls in a responsible manner.
DJI is the world’s largest civilian drone manufacturer by market share and has vast business interests in a large number of countries.
The firm has always strictly abided by the applicable export laws or regulations of countries and regions in which it operates, DJI told the newspaper.
China’s four ministries and ministry-level state organs yesterday released a set of restrictions on the export of Chinese-made drones, on the grounds they might be weaponized or used in actual combat.
Its tightened scrutiny against drone exports covers a wide range of UAVs, including consumer-grade drones which DJI are famous for.
In response, DJI said that the firm is dedicated to the design, development and manufacturing of civilian drone products and that since its inception, it is flatly opposed to any acts of using its products and technologies for any military or war purposes.
DJI has never designed or manufactured products and equipment that can be weaponized, nor has it marketed or sold products that were used in armed conflict or war, the firm told Global Times.
“We will strictly follow the temporary export rules released by the Chinese government today, and ensure full compliance and carefully fulfill our corporate social responsibility, so as to benefit mankind with technologies in a better way,” DJI claimed.
It’s unclear how the curbs will impact DJI’s business abroad.
Following the outbreak of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, DJI said in a notice that it will temporarily stop doing business in Russia and Ukraine.
This exit came after Ukrainian authorities accused the world’s top drone maker for supplying products that were used by the Russian military in the conflict.
The tech heavyweight said then that “it is internally reassessing compliance requirements in various jurisdictions,” and would “temporarily suspend all business activities in Russia and Ukraine” in “light of current hostilities.”
