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India Bars Military Drone Makers From Using Chinese Parts

AUG 8 2023·Updated AUG 27

Story

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

According to four defense and industry officials as well as documents accessed by Reuters, India has in recent months barred domestic manufacturers of military drones from using components made in China.
Reuters
The decision was reportedly made due to security concerns, with sources citing worries surrounding communication systems, cameras, radio transmissions, and operating software within drones.
Quartz
Reuters suggests that two meetings took place in February and March, during which India's military told potential bidders that acquiring equipment from nations "sharing land borders" was unacceptable for "security reasons."
India Today
A senior defense official claims that references to neighboring nations were a direct reference to China, where an official supplier for small Indian military drones — NewSpace Research and Technologies — said 70% of components had been imported from.
Asia Financial
India's decision was also apparently based upon a desire to break free from its dependency on China, despite the country's concerns surrounding cyberattacks. Beijing has denied any role in Indian cyberattacks.
Brecorder
India has set aside 75% of its 1.6T rupee (US$19.77B) military modernization budget for domestic industry. The latest decision follows the US, where Congress barred the Pentagon from buying or using drones and/or components made in China in 2019.
SaltWire

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Anti-China narrative

Through vast investment, China currently holds a grip on India in the global information war. While China's policy is not India-specific, and often targets countries neck-deep in debt to Beijing, India must reject China's growing influence over the state. In the age of technology, conflict is not fought merely using weapons, and Modi's government must be wary of Beijing's expansive tools of control.

India News – India TV

Pro-China narrative

China, since 2002, has gradually enforced export controls in line with common international norms and practices concerning high-performance unmanned aerial devices. China will continue with such a practice, and uphold the belief that technological advances should only be used in good faith for the global benefit of all people.

China Daily