The Chinese embassy is warning travelers against using drones after a tourist was arrested for flying a drone near Parliament House

SINGAPORE: The Chinese Embassy in Singapore has issued a cautionary statement to Chinese tourists traveling to Singapore, advising them to exercise extreme caution when flying drones. The advice comes after a Chinese tourist was detained by police for flying a drone near Singapore’s parliament building.

The incident occurred earlier this week when a Chinese tourist, whose identity has not been revealed, flew a drone near Parliament House with the intention of capturing a beautiful moment. However, this action violated Singapore’s strict rules on drone operations, leading to police intervention.

The tourist was taken into custody to assist in the investigation, which subsequently disrupted his travel plans.

In a statement on the WeChat platform, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore confirmed the incident, saying: “The passenger was taken away by police to assist in investigations, which also affected his onward travel route.”

The embassy urged all Chinese tourists visiting Singapore to be aware of local laws and regulations regarding the use of drones.

Singapore has strict regulations on the use of drones, especially in restricted areas such as airports and government buildings. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), flying drones in restricted zones without the proper permit is illegal and can lead to severe penalties, including fines and jail terms.

Restricted areas include locations such as airports, military installations and government housing.

Stressing the importance of adhering to these regulations, the Chinese Embassy said: “We remind tourists coming to Singapore and citizens in Singapore to increase their legal awareness and not fly drones at will.”

The embassy urged travelers to familiarize themselves with local laws before flying unmanned aerial vehicles.