Chinese authorities in Beijing have announced a new strict policy effective from 1 May, banning the sale, rental, or import of drones and key components into the capital. Additionally, drone owners must register their devices with the police and obtain prior approval before every flight.
Beijing authorities will implement new regulations starting 1 May, banning the sale and rental of drones, including essential parts, throughout the capital to enhance security in low-altitude airspace amid rising security challenges.
Reports indicate these measures are already impacting business operations. The major online shopping platform Taobao has suspended drone orders destined for Beijing, while DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer, must remove products from shelves and clear inventory by today (30 May).
Under the new rules, drone users in Beijing face strict restrictions: all drone owners must register their devices with their real names via the police's online system; outdoor drone flights require prior approval; pilots must complete training and pass an online regulatory test; and if drones are sent out for repair outside the city, owners must personally retrieve them, with package delivery of drones into the city prohibited. Violators face fines up to 500 yuan (approximately 2,500 baht) and potential drone confiscation.
However, authorities allow drone purchase or possession in specific cases such as counterterrorism, disaster relief, or research by universities and institutes, but only with special approval from the police.
Xiong Jinghua, a senior official of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, stated the law aims to find the "best balance" between public safety and promoting technological and economic progress.
This tightening occurs amid growth in the "low-altitude economy," a key Chinese strategy expected to generate more than 2 trillion yuan (about 10 trillion baht) by 2035. Although drones are widely used in many Chinese cities for food delivery, agriculture, and building cleaning, Beijing has consistently maintained stricter security measures than other areas.
Previously, Beijing banned Tesla vehicles from parking at certain government facilities and airports over concerns about data espionage via dashboard cameras, reflecting the capital's highest-level security policies.