The Lens: US concerns over Chinese drones may be exaggerated

While the Biden administration frames its concerns about Chinese drones as significant, I believe these fears are exaggerated and primarily rooted in national security and technological dependence.

The US government is worried about potential vulnerabilities from foreign adversaries accessing and manipulating drone systems. They say it could compromise sensitive data and national security.

As China leads the race in global drone production, the US’ reliance on Chinese technology imposes risks that may undermine US competitiveness.

Despite this narrative, concerns about Chinese drones amplify perceived threats without substantial evidence to justify an outright ban.

Instead of a ban, the US could prioritise regulatory measures to mitigate risks. Overall, the US lacks reasonable data to support a ban on Chinese drones.

Banning Chinese drones in the US could lead to several consequences. One significant impact would be on drone prices. China leads the world in commercial drone manufacturing and sells many of its products in the US. A ban could reduce competition in the US drone market, resulting in higher drone prices and the technology becoming less affordable.

Additionally, a ban could provoke retaliation from China. If China responds to US restrictions, it could significantly strain trade relations and have adverse effects on future trade relationships within the global economy.

Undeniably, drones are not the only products the US relies on China to export. The impact would be substantial.

In conclusion, a ban may enhance US national security and reduce reliance on foreign technology, but it also has downsides. Higher drone prices could make them less affordable, and strained US-China trade relations might further impact the economy.

Read up on the issue in last week’s The Lens

Japan’s work culture has been synonymous with gruelling hours and self-sacrifice for decades.

But a quiet revolution appears to be under way: younger Japanese workers are clocking fewer hours than at any time since the turn of this century, fuelling hopes that deaths from overwork may finally begin to decline.

Annual working hours in Japan dropped by 11.6 per cent from 2000 to 2022.

“Young people are deciding that they do not want to sacrifice themselves for a company, and I think that is quite wise,” said Makoto Watanabe, a professor of communications and media at Hokkaido Bunkyo University.

The shift is driven by generational change. Unlike their parents, who embraced long hours, Japan’s youth are prioritising work-life balance.

“For my parents’ generation, the thinking was that if they worked harder, they would earn more,” Watanabe said.

“But the attitude of young people now is that if they work hard, they are just being exploited.”

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Japan’s labour shortage has also given younger employees a rare advantage: leverage.

Companies are so desperate for talent that they have begun courting university students before they have finished their studies to recruit them before graduation.

For employees who feel overworked or undervalued, finding a new job is easier than ever.

The shift is reflected in pay cheques, too. Despite working fewer hours, wages for those in their twenties have risen 25 per cent since 2000. Meanwhile, fewer firms are requiring staff to work overtime without being paid.

Sociologists like Izumi Tsuji of Tokyo’s Chuo University, who is a member of the Japan Youth Study Group, said stability, not ambition, was the goal of younger workers.

This new work ethic can be frustrating for older employees, who built their careers on the basis of working long hours.

Research and respond

• Why is work-life balance important, and how is its value changing within Japanese work culture?

• What tactics could Japanese companies employ to recruit and keep new talent?