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Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has filed an appeal with the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals, contesting a recent court ruling that upheld its inclusion on the Pentagon’s list of alleged “Chinese military companies.”

In October 2023, DJI filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) decision to place it on the “Chinese Military Companies” (CMC) blacklist. The company sought to be removed from the list, arguing the designation was unfounded.

However, in September 2024, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman dismissed DJI’s request, though he rejected some of the U.S. government’s justifications for the listing, according to Reuters.

In response, DJI said it “disagrees with and does not accept” the ruling and has now appealed to the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals to “resolutely defend the company’s reputation and legitimate interests.”

“DJI has always firmly opposed the use of its products and technologies for any military or war purposes and has taken comprehensive measures to prevent misuse for such objectives,” the company said in a statement.

The DoD first placed DJI on the CMC list in 2022, reportedly without providing an explanation. DJI said it has repeatedly sought to engage with the Department to understand the rationale behind the decision and to submit relevant evidence, but has received no substantive response.

The DoD reaffirmed DJI’s inclusion when it updated the CMC list in January 2024. On October 18, 2024, DJI filed its lawsuit with the D.C. District Court, leading to the September 2024 ruling.

The case now moves to the appeals court, marking the latest chapter in DJI’s ongoing legal and regulatory battle with Washington amid intensifying U.S.-China technology tensions.