US Blacklists Chinese Drone Giant

Image copyright: Robert Delaney/South China Morning Post

The Facts

  • On Wednesday, the US Dept. of Defense (DOD) added the world's largest drone manufacturer, DJI technology - along with a dozen other Chinese hi-tech firms - to a blacklist of firms with alleged ties to the Chinese military, allowing for sanctions to be imposed against them.

  • This comes after an initial list including Huawei Technologies was published last year in accordance with the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual must-pass bill that guides funding for the US military.


The Spin

Anti-China narrative

This is a much needed move to mitigate threats to US national security. Although they may focus on developing civil technologies, these firms are deeply entangled with the military-industrial complex, as the Chinese Communist Party actively promotes military-civil fusion in order to expand and modernize its forces.

Pro-China narrative

As the US continues its baseless crackdown on China's scientific and technological rise to maintain its sci-tech hegemony, Washington is only ensuring its own downfall. This move may provoke short-term damage, but its long-term impact will be limited considering the US's direct investment in China represents only 2% of all foreign investment.


Metaculus Prediction


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO