Central Military Commission
Communist Party body that commands China's armed forces.
the Commission's equipment department co-signed MOFCOM Announcement No. 49 on 19 October 2026. From 18 November, exporters need a licence to sell drone autopilots, heavy-lift motors, swarm radios, drone jet engines and counter-drone technology to buyers in any country.
Last refreshed: 26 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why does China's military now co-sign the rules on selling drone parts abroad?
Timeline for Central Military Commission
Mentioned in: China licenses drone parts for any buyer
Drones: Industry & DefenceBackground
The Central Military Commission is the Communist Party body that commands China's armed forces, chaired by Xi Jinping. Reforms in 2016 replaced its four general departments with 15 bodies, among them the Equipment Development Department. In August 2026 the National People's Congress Standing Committee removed vice-chairman Zhang Youxia and Joint Staff chief Liu Zhenli, leaving Xi and General Zhang Shengmin as its only members, Reuters reported.
Its equipment department co-signed MOFCOM Announcement No. 49 on 19 October 2026 with China's commerce ministry and customs administration. The rule takes effect on 18 November and extends to buyers in every country the licensing that, from August 2026, covered only US-bound shipments. Every licence names the buyer and end user.
The co-signature brings the armed forces' equipment Arm into decisions on exports of drone parts that civilian makers sell worldwide, so the military now has a say over who abroad can build long-range and interceptor drones with Chinese components.
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Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 26 October 2026. Editorial standards.