US-China war before 2035?
MetaculusAPR 3 2023
US Weighs Ban on Chinese-Made Drones
Above: A Meituan drone delivers food to citizens at the Shenzhen Talent Park in Shenzhen. Image copyright: Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/Contributor/LightRocket via Getty Images
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.