Regional stability ‘at risk’ from China’s growing use of military drones

Three Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles spotted near Japan last month highlighted the increased focus on the technology

But Beijing is not alone in developing and deploying drones in the region and experts say an arms race could follow

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China’s Wing Loong drones can carry a payload of a dozen missiles while reaching speeds of up to 370km/h (230mph). Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 5:00pm, 11 Sep 2021Updated: 11:06pm, 11 Sep 2021

China’s growing unmanned aircraft capabilities and focus on increasingly sophisticated military drones are causing headaches for its neighbours and risking regional stability.

Three Chinese military drones were spotted near Japan in late August, prompting Tokyo to scramble fighters to investigate their activities. Accompanying the drones were a Shaanxi Y-8Q maritime patrol plane and a Shaanxi Y-9JB electronic intelligence aircraft, according to Japanese officials.

But China is not the only country developing and deploying drones in the region. In May, the US temporarily relocated two MQ-4C Triton drones from Guam to the Misawa base in northern Japan – the first such activity by the US military since the drones were sent to Guam early last year.

Two Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton drones were temporarily relocated from the US military base in Guam to Japan in May. Photo: Handout

And, according to a report in late August by the Asahi newspaper, Tokyo has decided to add drones to its coastguard, to enhance surveillance throughout Japan’s territorial waters.

Japan also this year started a development plan for an anti-drone system, which aims to be able to ward off attacks from vehicle-mounted lasers by 2025.

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