US lawmakers seek probe of Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics
Reuters
Published Nov 30, 2023 01:22PM ET
Updated Nov 30, 2023 03:26PM ET
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A bipartisan group of 11 U.S. House lawmakers on Thursday asked the Biden administration to investigate and potentially sanction Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics, citing national security concerns.
The letter, signed by House China select committee chair Mike Gallagher, a Republican, and the panel's top Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi, asked the Commerce, Defense and Treasury departments to investigate Autel Robotics, whose parent company is Autel Intelligent Technology.
The letter said Autel Robotics is openly affiliated with China's People’s Liberation Army (PLA) "and poses a direct threat to U.S. national security as local law enforcement and state and local governments are purchasing and operating Autel drones, potentially exposing sensitive data across the country."
The Pentagon said it would respond to the lawmakers' letter. Commerce and Treasury did not immediately comment. Autel could not immediately be reached for comment.
Another signer of the letter, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, said, "Autel drones made in Communist China present an unacceptable national security risk and should not be allowed to operate in America."
The Commerce Department in 2020 imposed export restrictions on China-based drone manufacturer DJI, accusing it of complicity in the oppression of China's Uyghur minority and helping the military.
The lawmakers asked if Autel should face similar restrictions, citing concerns that Autel technology was used in Xinjiang, and said the company "further appears to be potentially supporting Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine."
Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi earlier this month introduced legislation seeking to ban the U.S. government from buying any Chinese drones.
Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components manufactured in China.
The U.S. government has taken other actions to limit Chinese-made drone purchases.
The U.S. Interior Department in January 2020 said it was grounding its fleet of about 800 Chinese-made drones after halting additional purchases of such drones by the agency.
Over 50% of drones sold in the United States are made by DJI, and they are the most popular drones in use by public safety agencies, Republican lawmakers said earlier this year.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.