Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Beijing is extending its crackdown on civilian drones by barring individuals and businesses from keeping the devices in the Chinese capital starting Nov. 15.
The latest policy goes further than existing controls on drone sales and operations by covering ownership and storage, according to the South China Morning Post.
People who already have drones will also be subject to newly established disposal requirements, giving authorities a mechanism to remove existing devices from circulation.
The stricter policy came months after a small aircraft crashed into Citic Tower, the landmark skyscraper widely known as China Zun, in June. The pilot died in the incident.
Airspace controls will tighten even earlier, with Beijing and nearby areas subject to additional flight restrictions beginning Sept. 20.
Flights deemed unnecessary will generally be prohibited within the designated area, although regular commercial aviation and emergency rescue missions will remain exempt.
City officials said the measures were intended to identify potential safety risks and reinforce oversight of airspace around the capital.
The policy represents a broader shift in Beijing’s approach to unmanned aircraft, moving beyond regulating when and where drones can fly to restricting whether they can be privately kept at all.
