Japan-based US drones to spy on China: Media report
Iran Press TV
Tue May 13, 2014 2:21PM GMT
Japanese media reports say the United States seeks to deploy a fleet of drones in Japan to monitor the Chinese military activities in the troubled Asia-Pacific region.
A recent report published in Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun said the US Air Force plans to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Misawa Air Base as early as late May.
According to the bilateral agreement officially acknowledged by the Japanese Defense Ministry, the unmanned aircraft are to stay there until October.
The report said the drones may also be redeployed to Misawa and some other bases next year. A whole US fleet of drones may be operating in Japan as early as 2015, it added.
Sources say the Global Hawk drones will be watching Chinese naval ship movements in the China Sea and gathering other intelligence in the region.
However, the Japanese government officials say the drones will be used for multiple surveillance purposes across the country.
"The Global Hawk provided us with a wealth of data, including surveillance of the crippled reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The device will be effective in surveying the activities North Korean and Chinese military," the Japanese newspaper quoted officials as saying.
The developments come as Washington and Beijing have locked horns over a range of issues.
Senior Chinese officials have recently warned the United States and its allies against stirring up troubles across the volatile Asia-Pacific region.
Beijing has also demanded a clear explanation from Washington over reports of espionage by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on Chinese companies and institutions.
Senior officials in Beijing say they are gravely concerned about the claims and demand that any such spying be stopped.
JR/AB
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