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Japan reportedly deploys large drones to 'monitor' Diaoyu Islands; expert says move may provoke corresponding countermeasures

Global Times

By Guo Yuandan and Xu Yelu Published: Aug 19, 2025 11:37 PM

Japan is using a large coast guard drone, the SeaGuardian, to monitor the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, according to Kyodo News on Tuesday. A Chinese military expert said that if Japan's military drones intrude into the airspace of China's Diaoyu Islands, such new illegal activities will further complicate the situation, and China will take corresponding countermeasures.

The spokesperson for the China Coast Guard (CCG) has repeatedly emphasized that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have all along been China's territory, and has urged the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in the waters around them, adding that the CCG vessels will continue to carry out maritime rights protection and law enforcement operations in the waters of the Diaoyu Dao to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Earlier, the Kyodo News reported that Japan's 2022 Defense Capability Development Plan emphasized drone effectiveness "to minimize personnel casualties while carrying out missions." The fiscal 2025 budget allocated significant resources for UAV procurement ¥41.5 billion ($280 million) for US-manufactured large MQ-9B unmanned aircraft to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities.

The SeaGuardian, about 12 meters long with a wingspan of 24 meters, is steered by pilots at a ground operation center. Images and other data collected by the drone are checked by coast guard officers, who also issue instructions, according to Kyodo News.

The Kyodo News said the SeaGuardian has flown over the Diaoyu islands several times since April, surveilling Chinese coast guard ships and capturing images. However, the Japan Coast Guard has not disclosed the drone operations around the region.

Regarding Japan's deployment of drones, Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe believes this move brings risks and problems. "Firstly, there is a risk of collisions with other aerial objects. Secondly, drones can lose control or crash, posing threats to vessels at sea."

Zhang stressed that Japan's deployment of military drones into the airspace over the Diaoyu Islands represents a further escalation in its illegal activities in the area and would make the situation even more complex. If Japan's military drones intrude into China's airspace over the Diaoyu Islands, they will undoubtedly face resolute countermeasures from the Chinese side, and Japan must bear full responsibility for all consequences.