ANALYSIS/OPINION:

China intends to monitor its disputed claims in the South China Sea with drones that are “especially stealthy,” reports IANS.

The main reason behind this agenda is to keep tabs on exploitation of the oil and mineral rights in the region, along with monitoring possible military developments. The drones will be linked to the Chinese version of GPS.

“Many of the islands and reefs in the South China Sea have much larger underwater portions than what is visible above water, making them harder to survey and map,” Li Yingcheng, general manager of China TopRS Technology Co. Ltd said.

“In response to this challenge, China has designed drones to handle such complicated surveying, including the ZC-5B and Zc-10 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The ZC-5B has a maximum flight distance of 1,400 km, and can stay in the air for up to 30 consecutive hours,” Li was quoted as saying by Chinese media.

“Its design makes it especially stealthy, which comes in handy for open sea reef surveying and mapping” Li added.

“Reefs and islands are important parts of our national territory. Precise information of their geology is crucial evidence for the demarcation of territorial waters and for safeguarding national maritime interests and security,” Li said.

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