Controlling China’s drones – China’s latest business and technology news

Business & Technology

A summary of the top news in Chinese business and technology for August 22, 2017. Part of the daily The China Project newsletter, a convenient package of China’s business, political, and cultural news delivered to your inbox for free. Subscribe here.


China is a world leader in the development and manufacturing of drones. And now it appears that China may take the lead in jamming the signals used by pilots to remotely control their drones:

  • Caixin reports (paywall) that aside from the authorities establishing no-fly zones and requiring drone operators to register, Chinese companies are developing anti-drone technologies that can “cut off the signal between drones and remote controls,” as well as devices that can hijack a drone.
  • These devices are already in use at “large-scale sporting events, parties, and conferences.”
  • However, Caixin quotes an aviation official who says that “protecting airports from drone interference is a ‘worldwide problem,’” which is difficult to solve because of the large size of airports, and the need for existing anti-drone devices to have an operator.

In other drone news, the South China Morning Post says that the Chinese embassy in France “has warned visitors to be mindful of local laws after recent cases of tourists illegally flying drones at famous landmarks” in Paris.