China restricts military drone export after Kuleba’s visit - media

This move comes in response to growing criticism from the US and its allies over bolstering Russia’s battlefield efforts in Ukraine, as reported by Bloomberg.

Several Chinese agencies, including the Central Military Commission, have placed drones with high-precision measuring equipment on a “blacklist.” These amendments were added to last year’s list and will take effect on September 1.

"While officials removed export bans on consumer-grade drones, the Ministry of Commerce reiterated its stance that civilian equipment 'proliferation of mass destruction weapons, terrorism or military purposes,'" Bloomberg emphasized.

According to Bloomberg, President Xi Jinping’s government rolled out the directive days after Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba visited China for the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. 

It is noted that China has repeatedly denied Western accusations that Beijing supplies Moscow with dual-use goods for military purposes.

"European officials recently claimed Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to an Iranian model deployed in Ukraine. China has denied such allegations, saying the Asian country has not provided weapons to any parties of the Ukraine conflict and strictly controls exports of dual-use articles," Bloomberg reported.

• On July 24, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Guangzhou to discuss ways to achieve a “just peace” in the war with Russia.
• US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said it was important that China learns directly from Ukraine about the damage it has suffered because of Russia's war of aggression. He added that China is helping to fuel the fighting by supporting Russia's defense industry.