China is using underwater drones in a contested region to show off its might

The world’s second-largest economy has been deploying disruptive technology that could strengthen its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea .

Late last month, Beijing dropped a dozen underwater drones, also known as unmanned underwater vehicles, in an unspecified location in the international waterway to carry out “scientific observations,” state-run media outlet Xinhua reported.

The torpedo-shaped vehicles — called Haiyi, or sea wings in Mandarin — will remain underwater for a month, according to reports. In March, one device hit a depth of 6,329 meters, breaking an earlier record held by a U.S. vessel, Xinhua said.

China claims a massive section of the South China Sea that extends roughly 1,000 miles from its southern shores. The huge area is home to significant energy deposits and the world’s busiest shipping routes, but Vietnam , the Philippines , Malaysia , Brunei and Taiwan also assert sovereign rights over parts of the international waterway.

The use of autonomous drones raises a number of questions as to whether Beijing is deploying the technology to support its aggressive expansion in the geopolitical hotspot .

Is China really using the drones for science?

Scientific purposes may be the official line from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration, but political intentions can’t be ignored. According to one theory, underwater drones are being utilized as a symbol of supremacy.

“It is a clear attempt to signal a capability associated with leading powers in terms of technology, which often translates to prestige,” said Margaret Kosal, an associate professor at Georgia Tech who specializes in the role of emerging technologies for security.

Map courtesy of CSIS

Underwater drones are a demonstration of maritime strength and one of the many ways China is attempting to challenge the Western-dominated world order, she continued.

The U.S. Navy employs around 130 of those gadgets to collect oceanographic data. Last year, the Chinese navy seized one that was active in the South China Sea, sparking alarm.

Link:

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/china-using-underwater-drones-contested-060800164.html

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