INSIGHT-Game of drones: Chinese giant DJI hit by U.S. tensions, staff defections

A customer (L) is shown a unmanned aerial vechile (UAV or Drone) by an employee (R) during the opening of the DJI flagship store in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on September 24, 2016. DJI is a Chinese technology company founded in 2006 by Frank Wang and makes unmanned aerial vechiles (UVA or Drones) - AFP

SHENZHEN: Chinese drone giant DJI Technology Co Ltd built up such a successful U.S. business over the past decade that it almost drove all competitors out of the market.

Yet its North American operations have been hit by internal ructions in recent weeks and months, with a raft of staff cuts and departures, according to interviews with more than two dozen current and former employees.