In February 2026, Yuan, former Vice President of Sales at the Chinese drone manufacturer DJI (Dàjiāngchuàngxīn), was criminally detained on suspicion of bribery involving non-state public officials.
On February 15, multiple mainland Chinese media outlets such as Jièmiàn News, Cáilián Society, and Daily Economic News released the aforementioned news.
Public records show that Yuan served as Vice President at DJI from May 2019 to May 2024, overseeing sales operations. During his tenure, he was accused of leveraging his position for substantial improper gains.
The case is currently undergoing legal proceedings.
According to the 2026 Guangdong Provincial Government Work Report, drone production in Guangdong Province grew by 39% in 2025, comprising 90% of the national total, with DJI headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong.
According to the Hurun Global Unicorn List 2025, DJI is valued at 84 billion yuan.
In October 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense blacklisted DJI and 13 other Chinese companies citing DJI’s “close ties to the Chinese military” or active involvement in China’s “civil-military fusion” strategy.
On October 18, 2024, DJI initiated a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense for including it in the “Chinese military enterprise” list. A U.S. district judge dismissed DJI’s lawsuit on September 26, stating that the Department of Defense had ample evidence to support its conclusion, indicating DJI’s contribution to the “Chinese defense industrial base.”