The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has called for an investigation of Autel Robotics, a drone company suspected of having ties to the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Committee is expressing concerns about potential risks to national security that could stem from this relationship.
In a letter penned by lawmakers and addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, an investigation into Autel Robotics was fervently urged. There were calls for the drone company to be included in critical lists like the "Commerce Entity List," the "DoD Chinese Military Companies List," and the "Treasury Non-SDN Chinese Military Industrial Complex Companies List (NS-CMIC List)." The basis of these demands lies in apprehensions surrounding national security and suspected affiliations between Autel Robotics and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), as indicated by a press release from Rep. Elise Stefanik's (R-NY) office.
This call-to-action was made by a group of 11 bipartisan legislators. This team included Chairman of the Select Committee Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Ranking Member of the Committee Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Representatives Rob Wittman (R-VA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Mikie Sherrill(D-NJ), Stefanik among others, according to Stefanik’s office press release.
Stefanik voiced her concerns saying, "Autel drones made in Communist China present an unacceptable national security risk and should not be allowed to operate in America." She further stated that all Chinese companies, including Autel must follow China’s foreign espionage laws which require them to provide data collected by their products to CCP. With Chinese drones mapping American infrastructure like energy grid, agricultural technology etc., it provides CCP with detailed images which could pose potential security risks. She extended her support to Chairman Gallagher in demanding an investigation into Autel and insisted that Autel be added to export control lists so they do not benefit from American innovation and ingenuity.
Worries surrounding the China-based drone company are numerous, including allegations like "U.S. state and local governments operate Autel drones that could transmit sensitive data to the PLA." Furthermore, there have been accusations of the company's technology potentially enabling genocide in Xinjiang and claims of Autel drone components containing chips from blacklisted PRC companies. All these issues are raising queries about potential implications and risks associated with Autel's operations as per a press release from Stefanik’s office.
