Mike Gallagher Urges Joe Biden To Investigate Autel Robotics Over National Security Concerns

Mike Gallagher, asked Joe Biden not to ban Autell's drones from China. (photo: s @committeeonccp)

JAKARTA - Eleven US House members of the bipartisan group on Thursday 30 November called on President Joe Biden's administration to investigate and potential impose sanctions on Chinese drone manufacturer Autel Robotics, referring to national security concerns.

The letter, signed by the chairman of the China DPR's selection committee, Mike Gallagher, a Republican, and a member of the top Democratic Party at the panel, King Krishnatasthi, asked the Department of Commerce, Defense and Finance to investigate Autel Robotics, which is a subsidiary of Autel Intelligent Technology.

The letter states that Autel Robotics is publicly affiliated with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and is a direct threat to US national security as local law enforcement agencies and state governments as well as local governments buy and operate Autel drones, which have the potential to disclose sensitive data across the country.

The Department of Defense said it would respond to letters from members of the DPR. The Department of Trade and Finance did not immediately comment. Autel also could not immediately be reached for comment.

One of the letter signings, Republican House of Representatives member Juli 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, on charges of involvement in China's Uighur minority crackdown and assisting the military.

Members of the House of Representatives asked whether Autel should face similar restrictions, referring to concerns that Autel's technology was used in Xinjiang, and stated that the company "seems to have the potential to support an ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Gallagher and Krishna Moorthi earlier this month introduced a law trying to bar the US government from buying Chinese drones.

Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components manufactured in China. The US government has taken other measures to limit the purchase of Chinese-made drones.

The US Interior Department in January 2020 announced that it would recall a fleet of about 800 Chinese-made drones after halting additional purchases of the drone by the agency.

More than 50% of the drones sold in the United States were created by DJI, and they are the most popular drones used by public security agencies, Republican House members said earlier this year.