Asia Communique

Asia Communique

China’s Drone Deployment Along the India–China Border

What did we learn from the recent parade in Beijing?

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Aadil Brar
Sep 15, 2025
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Beijing’s New High-Tech Frontier

Pic: GJ-11 Drone in Singapore

China’s longest land border is with India. And Beijing is reinforcing it with flying robots. Over the past decade, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has transformed Tibet and Xinjiang with new airbases, heliports, and military logistics corridors. Now it is adding a new layer: advanced drones designed to dominate the high Himalayas.

The latest generation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), publicly rolled out in Beijing’s 2025 parade, signals a shift toward network-centric warfare. These are not simple reconnaissance drones but stealth combat platforms, loyal wingmen, and high-altitude scouts tied into a growing lattice of bases and fiber-optic networks. For India, the implication is clear: China is preparing for a new era of border competition where drones play a starring role.


A New Class of Combat Drones

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