Ukraine war: China limits drone exports as Russia compares Moscow strike to 9/11
China is to limit the export of long-range drones over fears they are being converted for military use in Ukraine.
Beijing says it will limit the export of some high-performance civilian devices due to the “increasing risk” that they are being used for “non-peaceful purposes”.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targetting civilian buildings with drone strikes in recent days, including one on Moscow’s financial district, which a Kremlin spokesperson likened to 9/11.
Xi Jinping’s government has officially adopted a position of neutrality over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – despite its friendly ties with Moscow.
Chinese firm DJI Technology Co – one of the global industry’s top competitors – has also pulled out of Ukraine and Russia to prevent its drones from being used in combat.
But Beijing has been stung in recent months by reports that both sides might be using Chinese-made drones for reconnaissance and possibly attacks in Ukraine.
Ukraine war latest: Drone sent ‘out of control’ in Moscow attack
A report by the New York Times in March, citing official Russian customs data, claimed that China had sold more than $12m (£9.3m) worth of drones and drone parts to Russia since the start of the war.
Officials in Washington have also previously raised fears that US components may be being used in Chinese-made drones sold to Russia – something which, if proven, would be a breach of American export laws.
‘Risk of military use constantly increasing’
China announced its new drone export limits on Tuesday in a statement from the country’s Ministry of Commerce, which also announced plans to restrict exports of some lasers, communication equipment and anti-drone systems.
“The risk of some high specification and high-performance civilian unmanned aerial vehicles being converted to military use is constantly increasing,” it said in a statement.
The ministry said the restrictions would apply to drones that can fly beyond the natural sight distance of operators or stay aloft for more than 30 minutes, as well as drones that can have attachments that can throw objects.
Moscow drone attack is clear attempt by Ukraine to build fear and anger in Russia
What’s fascinating about this [the drone attacks] is Zelenskyy clearly wants to take the fight to Moscow.
One of the ways of winning the war is on the battlefield, but the other way of doing it is to remove Putin’s will to continue to fight like this.
The West won’t provide the weapons to take this war into Russia for obvious fears of escalation, but President Zelenskyy is clearly doing everything he can to raise the profile of the fact wealthy Muscovites are in a battle.
You imagine this was in central London – it might not cause significant damage, but it would cause a bit of panic.
Beijing has previously accused the US and Western media of spreading “false information” about Chinese drone exports, while DJI says it has “never designed and manufactured products and equipment for military use”.
It comes after a US intelligence report claimed Beijing possibly provided equipment used in Ukraine that might have military applications.
The report cited Russian customs data that showed Chinese state-owned military contractors supplied drones, navigation equipment, fighter jet parts and other goods.
President Joe Biden’s administration has previously warned Beijing of unspecified consequences if it supports the Kremlin’s war effort.
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Were drone attacks on Moscow effective?
Russia likens drone attack to 9/11
China’s announcement came as both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of using drones to strike civilian buildings.
One strike, on Moscow’s financial district, was compared to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York by Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
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A security officer stands guard near a damaged office building in the Moscow City following a reported Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow
“Let’s take a look at another example: the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. It caused an enormous number of casualties but the methods were the same,” she told the Soloviev Live TV channel.
“The Moscow City district is a civilian site, which only hosts offices and a business centre, along with living quarters – a great number of residential apartments – as well as civilian administrative buildings that have nothing to do with the military.”
She added: “We are seeing the same picture now, as if it is repeating itself.”
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Earlier, Russian authorities said two of three drones had been shot down over the capital, with one eluding air defences and damaging a high-rise building – which was also hit in a similar attack on Sunday.
No casualties have been reported.
The 9/11 attacks, which saw the Islamist terror group al Qaeda hijack commercial airlines which they crashed into the World Trade Centre and attempted to crash into Washington D.C, claimed the lives of 2,996 people.
Ukraine has also accused Russia of using drone strikes against its civilians, with Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones among the most feared.
On Monday night, two Russian drone attacks destroyed the floors of a college dormitory and struck the centre of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials have said.
One person was injured in the strikes and emergency services have been dealing with the damage caused.
US president-elect Donald Trump has suggested Israel and Hamas could agree a Gaza ceasefire by the end of the week.
Talks between Israeli and Hamas representatives resumed in the Qatari capital Doha yesterday, after US President Joe Biden indicated a deal to stop the fighting was “on the brink” on Monday.
A draft agreement has been sent to both sides. It includes provisions for the release of hostages and a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.
Qatar says Israel and Hamas are at their “closest point” yet to a ceasefire deal.
Two Hamas officials said the group has accepted the draft agreement, with Israel still considering the deal.
An Israeli official said a deal is close but “we are not there” yet.
More than 46,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its ground offensive in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Read more:
What’s in the proposed deal?
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on beachfront cafe in Deir al Balah. Pic: Reuters
Biden hails possibility of agreement
President Biden said it would include a hostage release deal and a “surge” of aid to Palestinians, in his final foreign policy speech as president.
“So many innocent people have been killed, so many communities have been destroyed. Palestinian people deserve peace,” he said.
“The deal would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians who suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started.”
Qatari mediators have sent Israel and Hamas a draft proposal for an agreement to halt the fighting.
Analysis:
Deal might be close, but there are many unanswered questions
Pic: Reuters
Trump: ‘We’re very close’
President-elect Donald Trump has also discussed a possible peace deal during a phone interview with the Newsmax channel.
“We’re very close to getting it done and they have to get it done,” he said.
“If they don’t get it done, there’s going to be a lot of trouble out there, a lot of trouble, like they have never seen before.
“And they will get it done. And I understand there’s been a handshake and they’re getting it finished and maybe by the end of the week. But it has to take place, it has to take place.”
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Pic: AP
Israeli official: Former Hamas leader held up deal
Speaking on Tuesday as negotiations resumed in Qatar, an anonymous Israeli official said that an agreement was “close, but we are not there”.
They accused Hamas of previously “dictating, not negotiating” but said this has changed in the last few weeks.
“Yahya Sinwar was the main obstacle for a deal,” they added.
Sinwar, believed to be the mastermind of the 7 October attacks, led Hamas following the assassination of his predecessor but was himself killed in October last year.
Under Sinwar, the Israeli official claimed, Hamas was “not in a rush” to bring a hostage deal but this has changed since his death and since the IDF “started to dismantle the Shia axis”.
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Biden: ‘Never, never, never, ever give up’
Iran ‘weaker than it’s been in decades’
Yesterday, President Biden also hailed Washington’s support for Israel during two Iranian attacks in 2024.
“All told, Iran is weaker than it’s been in decades,” the president said.
Mr Biden claimed America’s adversaries were weaker than when he took office four years ago and that the US was “winning the worldwide competition”.
“Compared to four years ago, America is stronger, our alliances are stronger, our adversaries and competitors are
weaker,” he said.
“We have not gone to war to make these things happen.”
The US president is expected to give a farewell address on Wednesday.
A draft ceasefire deal on the table between Israel and Hamas would see 33 hostages set free and a phased withdrawal of IDF forces from parts of Gaza.
President Joe Biden said an agreement to stop the fighting was “on the brink” and high level negotiations between the two sides resumed in Qatar on Tuesday.
The deal would see a number of things happen in a first stage, with negotiations for the second stage beginning in the third week of the ceasefire.
It would also allow a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been devastated by more than a year of war.
Details of what the draft proposal entails have been emerging on Tuesday, reported by Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages hold photos of their loved ones during a protest on 8 January. Pic: AP
Hostages to be returned
In the first stage of the potential ceasefire, 33 hostages would be set free.
These include women (including female soldiers), children, men over the age of 50, wounded and sick.
Israel believes most of these hostages are alive but there has not been any official confirmation from Hamas.
In return for the release of the hostages, Israel would free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
People serving long sentences for deadly attacks would be included in this but Hamas fighters who took part in the 7 October attack would not be released.
An arrangement to prevent Palestinian “terrorists” from going back to the West Bank would be included in the deal, an anonymous Israeli official said.
Read more:
A timeline of events since the 7 October attacks
The hostages who still haven’t returned home
Smoke billows as buildings lie in ruin in Beit Hanoun in Gaza. Pic: Reuters
Phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
The agreement also includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, with IDF troops remaining in the border perimeter to defend Israeli border towns and villages.
Security arrangements would be implemented at the Philadelphi corridor – a narrow strip of land that runs along the border between Egypt and Gaza – with Israel withdrawing from parts of it after the first few days of the deal.
The Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza would start to work gradually to allow the crossing of people who are sick and other humanitarian cases out of Gaza for treatment.
Unarmed North Gaza residents would be allowed to return to their homes, with a mechanism introduced to ensure no weapons are moved there.
“We will not leave the Gaza Strip until all our hostages are back home,” the Israeli official said.
What will happen to Gaza in the future?
There is less detail about the future of Gaza – from how it will be governed, to any guarantees that this agreement will bring a permanent end to the war.
“The only thing that can answer for now is that we are ready for a ceasefire,” the Israeli official said.
“This is a long ceasefire and the deal that is being discussed right now is for a long one. There is a big price for releasing the hostages and we are ready to pay this price.”
The international community has said Gaza must be run by Palestinians, but there has not been a consensus about how this should be done – and the draft ceasefire agreement does not seem to address this either.
In the past, Israel has said it will not end the war leaving Hamas in power. It also previously rejected the possibility of the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited governing powers in the West Bank, from taking over the administration of Gaza.
Since the beginning of its military campaign in Gaza, Israel has also said it would retain security control over the territory after the fighting ends.
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