China reports crash of survey drone in vital South China Sea waters
- Maritime authorities warn vessels to be on alert after drone comes down earlier this month
- Announcement comes in the same week as the PLA mounts drills near Taiwan
In a brief notice, the China Maritime Safety Administration said the 4-metre (13 feet) ocean survey drone crashed into the sea earlier this month.
It did not specify a date and warned ships to be on alert.
But the crash site did not appear to be close to the drill area.
Ying-yu Lin, a professor of international relations and strategic studies at Tamkang University in New Taipei, said the drill and the drone crash did not seem to be linked.
“As there were no specifics regarding the drone’s activation time and launch location, and given that the report was published on May 22, two days before the PLA initiated exercises simulating a blockade near Taiwan, it appears that these events were unrelated,” Lin said.
“However, we cannot dismiss the possibility that the mainland might exploit this incident as a pretext for conducting open searches in the area to enhance its intelligence gathering on various military activities, including those of Taiwan, the US, and other allies, both on and beneath the sea.”
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It also comes after the US and the Philippines conducted military exercises in the Western Pacific last month, deploying medium-range missiles.
Both China and the United States are increasingly using civilian and military drones in the disputed waters.
Jang Ming-ruey, secretary general of the Taiwan International Strategic Study Society, a Taipei-based think tank, said the coordinates suggested the drone crashed near the Philippines’ northernmost island of Luzon.
“It may be positioned along the edge of the nine-dash line, a crucial route for US submarines navigating through the narrow Bashi Channel,” Jang said.
He said the drone was fitted with environmental monitoring and geomagnetic survey equipment, indicating that its main function was data collection on the surface and seabed.
Beyond scientific research, many mainland drones have dual civilian and military applications, according to Jang.
“They can provide valuable insights into ocean currents and other activities, including military movements, both near and distant from Taiwan’s waters. Furthermore, they can aid in detecting military movements of the US and its allies, both on the surface and beneath the sea,” he said.
