Drones · Full chronicle and history

Alibaba is accused of failing to prevent merchants on its platform from conducting approximately 80,000 transactions involving the export of illegal drugs, equipment, and other items to the United States between January 2016 and December 2024.

AUS acknowledged deficiencies in its transaction monitoring system between January 2020 and December 2023, which failed to prevent illegal transactions by some Alibaba merchants.

NATO Secretary General Lütke during his visit to Washington said that NATO allies are making good progress in striving to achieve defence spending targets.

The White House has announced detailed arrangements for Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the US, including President Trump personally going to Andrews Joint Base to greet him, holding a welcoming ceremony and state dinner at the White House, and the leaders of the two countries and their spouses will visit the US National Archives together.

On September 21, official announcements stated that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and the military due to serious violations of discipline and law.

It was officially announced that Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, with an itinerary including a tour of the National Archives and attendance at a state dinner.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Xi Jinping was absent from the BRICS summit banquet due to illness, and Wang Yi attended on his behalf.

The US Department of State has approved a foreign military sale of air defense systems to Ukraine, including S-300 clone missiles, with a total estimated value of up to $2.68 billion.

Following Wang Zhongwei's protest in Washington, D.C. against Xi Jinping's visit to the US, his family in China was harassed by the police under the guise of persuasion.

Beijing announced that starting November 15, except under special security circumstances, the possession and storage of drones and their core components are prohibited.

Netizens left sarcastic comments under People’s Daily's Bilibili account regarding Zhao Lijian's past remarks on drones. Currently, the comment section for the video has been restricted.

On September 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on social media that the Security Service of Ukraine, Unmanned Systems Forces, and Special Operations Forces, among other departments, jointly launched a large-scale long-range drone strike against the Moscow region the previous night, successfully hitting critical Russian petroleum industrial facilities and logistical bases.

On the final day of the Russian parliamentary elections, the skies over Moscow were hit by a large-scale drone attack. An oil refinery in the Moscow Oblast caught fire, billowing black smoke, and the area near the Kremlin was also affected.

The first two MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones sold by the United States to Taiwan conducted their maiden test flights in Taiwan's eastern airspace on September 14. This model possesses real-time search and patrol capabilities both above and below the sea surface, with a monitoring radius of approximately 360 kilometers.

On September 13, 2026, the Beijing municipal government announced at a press conference that personal possession of drones will be completely prohibited within the urban area, with the ban slated to take effect in mid‑November 2026. Previously, the city had implemented a ban on drone sales in May 2026; this further tightening of regulation is said by officials to aim at safeguarding public safety and preventing illegal filming. The Associated Press reported the news.

On September 11, the South China Morning Post cited expert judgment to confirm that the large drone that has recently received attention is the WZ-X stealth drone. This model has a wingspan of about 52 meters and a size close to the US military's B-2 stealth bomber. It is regarded as an intercontinental high-altitude long-endurance intelligence reconnaissance drone. It was previously identified by US defense websites through satellite imagery at the Malan Air Force Test Site in Xinjiang in May 2025. Chinese officials have not commented on this.

The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau held an event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Chinese and Hong Kong officials were invited to attend. The event showcased American style and emphasized the connection between the U.S. and Hong Kong.

The CCP Central Military Commission held a ceremony to promote generals, with Zhang Shuguang and Wang Gang officially promoted to the rank of general.

Trump said in an interview with CNBC that talks with Iran are progressing smoothly and Iran has almost agreed to the US demands. Previously, the US and Iran held indirect talks in Qatar.

On the evening of July 2 Eastern Time, Trump posted on Truth Social, criticizing NATO relations as unequal and saying that the United States' one‑sided contribution to NATO is absurd.

The director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Taipei Office, William Brent Christensen, stated that the war in Ukraine shows that drones can change the rules of the battlefield, urging Taiwan to seize the opportunity to build drones into the next generation of its flagship industry.

On the evening of July 1, the US team beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the World Cup round of 32, advancing to the round of 16. The match sparked a heated response in the World Cup fan zone in Washington.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission passed the new regulation by a 3-0 vote, significantly strengthening oversight of submarine communication cables, extending jurisdiction to onshore terminal equipment, and establishing national security standards to expedite approvals.

On June 24, Trump stated at a White House meeting with NATO Secretary General Rutte that NATO countries had failed the US in responding to joint US-Iran military operations and allowing the use of military bases.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced that China's latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, and the Taiwanese military closely monitored it using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods.

The Taiwan military has begun a five-day immediate combat readiness drill aimed at enhancing the armed forces' rapid response capabilities against potential threats from mainland China.

The United States and Iran signed an interim peace agreement on June 18.

The owner of a barbecue shop in Heze, Shandong reported to the authorities that a Yuan blue-and-white porcelain cup in the local museum was possibly missing and submitted evidence. Afterwards, the owner was repeatedly retaliated against and disciplined by multiple local government departments, ultimately forcing the barbecue shop to cease operations.

Former Air Force Commander Chang Dingqiu reportedly died of a sudden heart attack while undergoing detention and interrogation by the military discipline inspection commission, with no official announcement made.

Overseas rumors suggest that Xi Jinping suffered a stroke during the Third Plenary Session, military control changed hands, and Zhang Youxia placed him under control while contacting Hu Jintao through Liu Yuan.

In 2020, China was designated as a foreign adversary by the U.S. Department of Commerce under an executive order, subjecting transactions involving information and communication technology and services to special scrutiny.