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China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

skydio.com

21–30 of 101 posts

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#21
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny thing is, when I talk to Chinese people in China, nearly all of them understand why the US and China are fighting: economic reasons. There isn't the same level of hate/demonization of the US in China as there is the opposite in US. People in China seem to be able to separate the emotions from the situation and able to understand the circumstance logically. Meanwhile, in the US, it's become more of a hate thing…

Is this actually true? From what Ive seen and read, the US is constantly demonized in the Chinese media.

Nobody relies on that in China

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#22
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funny thing is, when I talk to Chinese people in China, nearly all of them understand why the US and China are fighting: economic reasons. There isn't the same level of hate/demonization of the US in China as there is the opposite in US. People in China seem to be able to separate the emotions from the situation and able to understand the circumstance logically. Meanwhile, in the US, it's become more of a hate thing…

Is this actually true? From what Ive seen and read, the US is constantly demonized in the Chinese media.

The fact that people actually ask this question, shows how people in the west (assuming you are from there) only see China through mainstream media. No offense to you in particular.

In China, if you walk around the street in any city, you can see many American brands such as McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks, Microsoft, Apple. American logos are proudly displayed. If you walk into a cafe, you will more often than not, hear American music. Chinese cinemas will show Hollywood movies. They have statues of Kobe Bryant and when the NBA plays there, they get hundreds of thousands of fans. This is all in 2024, by the way.

Meanwhile, in America, everything Chinese will inevitably get the "China bad" treatment. Chinese companies doing business in America have to hide the fact that they're Chinese. Google "Is company..." and often the top autocomplete results includes something like "Is x company Chinese?".

The level of propaganda is not nearly the same on both sides.

Go to China and see for yourself. I just came back from Shenzhen. Absolutely stunning modern city that feels like it's 5 years ahead of anywhere I've been to. It's extremely safe for foreigners. Ridiculously safe actually. By my estimation, 80% of the cars on the road are EVs. Super clean air, cleaner than most American cities nowadays. You never hear about this stuff in western mainstream media.

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t really think a sanctioned entity is under obligation to argue “both sides”. I doubt Chinese companies under similar conditions will do so, or have done so in the past.

Funny thing is, when I talk to Chinese people in China, nearly all of them understand why the US and China are fighting: economic reasons. There isn't the same level of hate/demonization of the US in China as there is the opposite in US. People in China seem to be able to separate the emotions from the situation and able to understand the circumstance logically. Meanwhile, in the US, it's become more of a hate thing…

Of course, if you analyze things logically you'll conclude that the dispute is merely economic, because the US was buying everything from China until a few months ago.

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#24

I find the author's letter a bit tone deaf. It acknowledges that China is sanctioning Skydio for military reasons, but ignores that the US is doing the same.

From the article's opening sentence, it's clear that they are being sanctioned for doing business with Taiwan's Fire Agency, and not for any military reasons.

  A few weeks ago, China announced sanctions on Skydio for selling drones to Taiwan, where our only customer today is the National Fire Agency.

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#25
post #7
post #2

Sanction for sanction, simple as that. Western countries like to sanction the shit out of China, but they don't like it when then they do it?

Sanction aside, this action is a wake-up call for all US based companies operating in geopolitically sensitive industries that they absolutely need to diversify their supply chain away from China. And in terms of the sanction itself, it’s definitely a reasonable response by China, given the fact that DJI is heavily sanctioned by the US government.

The "sanctions" on DJI are limited to US federal agencies being banned from buying DJI drones.

China's move however will be a killing blow to Skydio because China has most likely correctly calculated that US/Western anti-mining sentiments makes it impossible to manufacture batteries.

https://dronelife.com/2024/09/10/house-passes-countering-ccp...

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#26

I find the author's letter a bit tone deaf. It acknowledges that China is sanctioning Skydio for military reasons, but ignores that the US is doing the same.

You mean with DJI? It's not remotely symmetrical. The US does not prohibit DJI from buying US parts to use in their drones. The US do not prohibit US citizens from buying DJI drones. Only the US Dept of Defense is prohibited from buying DJI equipment.

The US does this because DJI is considered a Chinese Military Company [1] (nb that DJI disputes this and asked to be removed from the list). China is sanctioning Skydio because they sold some drones to Taiwan.

[1] https://media.defense.gov/2024/Jan/31/2003384819/-1/-1/0/126...

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t really think a sanctioned entity is under obligation to argue “both sides”. I doubt Chinese companies under similar conditions will do so, or have done so in the past.

Funny thing is, when I talk to Chinese people in China, nearly all of them understand why the US and China are fighting: economic reasons. There isn't the same level of hate/demonization of the US in China as there is the opposite in US. People in China seem to be able to separate the emotions from the situation and able to understand the circumstance logically. Meanwhile, in the US, it's become more of a hate thing…

People in the US can recognize that the fighting is caused by economic reasons, and surely the average American citizen and the average Chinese citizen don't hold animosity towards each other on a personal level.

I think manufacturing jobs moving to China hurt the middle class in the US, and that's caused a disdain for China (and US politicians who push for things like that). But otherwise, I don't think the China rhetoric is too out of touch with reality. It would be very interesting to talk to someone in China and directly compare perspectives.

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First sentence of article. >A few weeks ago, China announced sanctions on Skydio for selling drones to Taiwan, where our only customer today is the National Fire Agency.

...Yeah? That is pretty much in line with how sanction works in the West. US has sanctioned for decades companies that cooperate economically with "enemy states" (Iran/Cuba/Russia/China), I don't see how China would be different.

Indeed, and I'm not sure that China will arrest you when you're travelling in a foreign country, for trading with Taiwan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extradition_case_of_Meng_Wanzh...

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#29

I find the author's letter a bit tone deaf. It acknowledges that China is sanctioning Skydio for military reasons, but ignores that the US is doing the same.

You mean with DJI? It's not remotely symmetrical. The US does not prohibit DJI from buying US parts to use in their drones. The US do not prohibit US citizens from buying DJI drones. Only the US Dept of Defense is prohibited from buying DJI equipment. The US does this because DJI is considered a Chinese Military Company [1] (nb that DJI disputes this and asked to be removed from the list). China is sanctioning Skydio…

I mean in general, starting with Huawei.

Re: China sanctions US drone maker Skydio

#30
post #13

This is great. Now everyone will get serious decoupling battery supply chain from China. Maybe companies making EVs will understand the stake.

But how are they going to compete with the huge state-supported battery makers from China?

If batteries can't be sourced from China, there is no competition. If they can be, tariffs to balance out the subsidies.
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