Drones are playing a growing role in China’s military operations, from the Himalayan border areas to the depths of the seas off its eastern and southern coasts, as the People’s Liberation Army embeds the technology in nearly every sphere of operations. Recent satellite images, as well as media and academic reports, have confirmed a significant stepping up in the deployment of drones, developed for an array of uses, in joint combat operations and strategies. Chinese state media have showed a range of drones undergoing high-altitude testing in the Himalayas, with a focus on studying joint operation tactics with different troops…