US Weighs Ban on Chinese-Made Drones
The Facts
The US Dept. of Commerce on Thursday said that it plans to explore new rules that could restrict or ban Chinese-made drones in the US, with public comments being accepted until March 4.
The Bureau of Industry and Security specifically identified China and Russia as acute threats that could potentially access and manipulate drones remotely, exposing sensitive US data.
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
US politicians are again using paranoia and alarmism to single out China in an effort to boost their own political fortunes. A US ban on Chinese drones would be catastrophic for both countries' economies and would further escalate the distance that's been growing between the two powerful nations. A few political points could lead to major losses for the US.
Anti-China narrative
It's crucial to US national security that everything that can be done is done in order to prevent Chinese drones from proliferating on American soil and collecting Americans' data. The Chinese Communist Party has proven it will surveil Americans with any tool available. Whether it's Commerce Department rules, legislation from Congress, or other means, these drones must be banned.
