[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Amid escalating tensions between the US and China over the South China Sea, the US military is intensifying the deployment of drones in the region to enhance surveillance of China, according to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 16th (local time).
SCMP, citing US spy drone experts, reported, "As military confrontations between the two countries become more intense, drones will be frequently spotted in the skies around China."
Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Posture and Awareness Project, a Chinese think tank, said, "Drones have frequently appeared over the past year in the South China Sea and near China's coast," adding, "If the US regularly dispatches drones, the risk of friction with the Chinese military will significantly increase."
He further stated, "The purpose of these activities goes beyond simple intelligence gathering and signifies political and military pressure on China."
The US Air Force announced on the 14th that it had relocated the high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft Triton (MQ-4C) from Guam to Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. This marks the first time US Air Force drones have been deployed in the Japanese region.
Misawa Air Base, located in northern Honshu Island, Japan, hosts US Navy operational aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon.
SCMP suggested that this move "targets the active maritime activities of surrounding countries" and implies an intention to check China's expanding maritime presence.
The Triton is a modified version of the Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk for maritime surveillance purposes and is intended to enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities under all weather conditions.
The Global Hawk is a satellite-level unmanned reconnaissance aircraft capable of identifying objects as small as 0.3 meters on the ground from an altitude of 20 km using special high-performance radar and infrared detection equipment.
While North Korea is the primary target of the Global Hawk in Japan, SCMP reported that advanced sensors can collect information beyond North Korea, including China.
The US Navy in Japan analyzed that the deployment of Triton will provide enhanced maritime surveillance capabilities to the US-Japan alliance.
Japan's Ministry of Defense also stated on the 7th, "The Global Hawk and Triton will be temporarily deployed in Japan from mid-month," adding, "This deployment is intended to demonstrate the US commitment to Japan's defense in light of the increasing maritime activities of neighboring countries."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
