In August, top members of the House China Select Committee sent formal inquiries to the Commerce Department and to the CEO of a newly established American business linked to the Chinese drone manufacturer Da Jiang Innovations (DJI).
This move reflects Congress’s intensified scrutiny of Chinese drones within the U.S., driven by national security concerns and a desire to clamp down on entities connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The committee is specifically looking into Anzu Robotics, a U.S.-based company licensing DJI technology for American sales.
Congress pushes for deeper investigation into Anzu Robotics’ ties to blacklisted Chinese firm DJI
Representatives John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), leading the committee, have expressed unease over Anzu’s Raptor T model, which they argue closely resembles DJI’s Mavic 3.
This raises concerns about identical components and firmware that could be compromised through Chinese supply chains. They suggest that DJI may be using Anzu as a workaround to circumvent existing and anticipated U.S. restrictions.
DJI, already blacklisted by the Commerce Department for its ties to Beijing and the CCP, presents a national security threat, according to the lawmakers. They have requested detailed information from Anzu’s CEO, Randall Warnas, regarding his company’s relationship with DJI. Warnas has stated his intent to cooperate and clarified that Anzu’s dealings with DJI are minimal and compliant with legal standards.
Additionally, the lawmakers have contacted Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, providing evidence of products from Anzu and another company, Hong Kong-based Cogito Tech, which appears to sell DJI replicas. They urge the Commerce Department to investigate these companies and their potential role in circumventing U.S. restrictions.
With DJI commanding 80% of the global drone market, Washington’s efforts to impose further restrictions are part of a broader initiative to address perceived security threats from Chinese firms.
This includes the Countering CCP Drones Act, which seeks to further limit DJI’s presence in U.S. communications infrastructure. Meanwhile, existing tariffs and state bans reflect ongoing concerns, with the potential for expanded restrictions if companies associated with DJI are identified by the Federal Communications Commission.
