Chinese Drone Maker DJI Sues US Defense Department over Blacklisting
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense, challenging its designation as a "Chinese Military Company," which the company claims was made in error.
DJI, the dominant player in the global consumer drone market, announced on Saturday that it is suing the US Department of Defense (DoD) over its inclusion on a blacklist of Chinese military-linked companies.
The company said in a statement that the lawsuit, filed on October 18, contests what it called an "erroneous" designation by the Pentagon. DJI claims it has attempted to engage with the DoD for over sixteen months before deciding that legal action was the only option.
"DJI is not owned or controlled by the Chinese military, and the DoD itself acknowledges that DJI manufactures consumer and commercial drones, not military drones," the company stated. "DJI is a private company and should not be misclassified as a military company."
The Pentagon placed DJI on its list of Chinese military-linked companies in 2022, citing its efforts to "highlight and counter" China's Military-Civil Fusion strategy, which aims to modernize the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). According to the DoD, this strategy involves leveraging Chinese companies, universities, and research institutions that appear civilian but ultimately support military goals.
Washington has scrutinized Chinese tech firms, including DJI, for years over national security concerns. The US Commerce Department recently banned the sale of vehicles with Chinese technology that can connect to other devices or the internet, citing similar security risks.
DJI, founded in 2006, is the world’s largest consumer drone maker and holds a significant share of the market for higher-end unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company has faced further allegations of supporting Russian military operations during the Ukraine war, which it denies. In April 2022, DJI suspended business in both Russia and Ukraine to reassess its compliance policies.
Previously, the US Department of the Treasury blacklisted DJI in 2021 for allegedly aiding in the surveillance of the Uyghur minority in China’s Xinjiang region, which DJI also denies.
