The US House of Representatives’ China committee will
introduce a bill to ban the US Government from buying Chinese drones, reported the
Financial Times on Wednesday.
Mike Gallagher, the Republican head of the committee,
and Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking Democrat, will introduce the “American
Security Drone Act” on Wednesday, the FT report added.
“This bill would prohibit the Federal Government from
using American taxpayer dollars to purchase drones from countries like China,” said
Gallagher.
China recently announced export controls on some
drones and drone-related equipment, saying it wanted to safeguard “national
security and interests” in response to escalating tension with United States
over access to technology.
The bill was cosigned by Virginia Republican Rob
Wittman and Connecticut Democrat Joe Courtney, the FT said, adding that the
bill would also bar local and State Governments from purchasing Chinese drones
with federal grants.
The US House of Representatives’ China committee did
not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Reuters
