China on Thursday criticized the United States' decision to impose Section 232 tariffs on drones and related components, saying the move uses "national security" as a pretext for unilateralism and protectionism.

He Yadong, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce, said at a press briefing that Chinese drones exported to the US market are primarily used in civilian fields, including agricultural production, equipment inspections, and film and entertainment industries.

The spokesperson said the US measures have expanded the scope of the national security concept, imposed discriminatory tariff treatment on Chinese products, and introduced different tariff rates for various trading partners.

Such actions not only harm the interests of Chinese companies but also disrupt cooperation in global drone supply chains and undermine a fair and competitive market environment, He said.

China firmly opposes the move and urges the US to immediately withdraw the relevant Section 232 tariff measures, he added.