First Chinese Firm Ever to Join Halting Operations in Russia

Following the criticism over its participation in the Ukraine war, a Shenzhen-based company claims it is “reassessing compliance standards. DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, has declared that activities in Russia and Ukraine would be temporarily halted, marking a rare instance of a Chinese company stopping operations in reaction to the conflict in Ukraine.

The Shenzhen-based firm announced on Wednesday that it would halt operations in the two nations while it “internally reassessed compliance standards in various jurisdictions.” According to a business statement, DJI, which was formed in Hong Kong in 2006 and is not publicly traded, is “working with consumers, partners, and other stakeholders regarding the interim suspension.”

DJI’s head of corporate communications for North America, Adam Lisberg said that the move was made “not to make a comment against any nation, but to make a statement about our ideals.” “We deplore any use of our drones to inflict harm,” Lisberg said. “We are temporarily banning sales in certain nations to help guarantee no one uses our drones in warfare.” DJI’s admission comes after the business denied last month that it had been leaking Ukrainian military secrets to Russia, claiming that a German store had been “exposed to what looked to be a concerted campaign making false charges” after pulling its goods from the shelves.

DJI Stand Against Military Actions

DJI’s partners agreed not to sell its goods to “customers who aim to use them for military reasons or help alter our products for military use,” according to a statement released last week by the company.

“We will never allow the use of our goods to hurt others, and we will continue to utilize our efforts to benefit the world,” the firm stated.

During the war, Ukraine’s military has employed DJI drones for reconnaissance, and battlefield images and films reveal Russia has also used the company’s drones. DJI’s action, according to an analyst, reflects consumer pressure the company has encountered in Europe over suspicions it has been supporting Moscow’s war effort. “DJI is a Chinese state-backed company that wants to be seen as a neutral global manufacturer,” Rollet, who has studied DJI’s ties to several Chinese state investment bodies said.