DJI challenges U.S. blacklist, claims military ties unfounded
The Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has initiated legal action against the U.S. Department of Defense, alleging it was "wrongly" placed on a blacklist of entities suspected of collaborating with Beijing's military, as reported by AFP on Saturday.
19 October 2024 13:28
According to a statement from DJI, on 18 October, it filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Defense's erroneous classification of it as a "Chinese military company. "
The company was added to the Pentagon's blacklist in 2022.
Not owned by the Chinese military
In the lawsuit, DJI asserts that the Department of Defense's "unlawful and erroneous decision" has resulted in the loss of business contracts, stigmatisation as a national security threat, and barring of entering into contracts with many federal government agencies. The company emphasises that it is "neither owned nor controlled by the Chinese military."
DJI had previously been placed on the U.S. Treasury Department's blacklist in 2021 for alleged involvement in the surveillance of the Uighur minority in China's Xinjiang region.
U.S. halted imports
Reuters reported on Wednesday that U.S. customs authorities have halted the import of DJI drone parts into the United States, citing the Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act. DJI maintains that it does not employ coercion at any stage of production.
In April 2022, the Chinese manufacturer announced the suspension of device sales to Russia to prevent its drones from being used in Ukraine's frontline. Authorities in Kyiv accused the company of providing data on the Ukrainian military to the Russians.
Founded in 2006, DJI Technology Co. is the world's largest consumer drone manufacturer and also has a significant share in the global production of higher-end unmanned aerial vehicles.
