A US judge on Friday rejected a bid by China-based DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, to be removed from the US Defence Department’s list of companies allegedly working with Beijing’s military.

In his ruling, US District Judge Paul Friedman in Washington said the Defence Department had substantial evidence supporting its finding that DJI, which sells more than half of all US commercial drones, contributes to the “Chinese defence industrial base”.

DJI had urged the court to order its removal from the Pentagon list designating it as a Chinese military company, saying it “is neither owned nor controlled by the Chinese military”.

DJI and a lawyer for the company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Defence Department declined to comment.

Trump has ordered the Defence Department to rename itself the Department of War, a change that will require action by Congress.