China Deploys WZ-7 Drone for First Time Near Scarborough Shoal

China's PLA Southern Theatre Command conducted joint air and naval drills near Scarborough Shoal, deploying the WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone for the first time in the South China Sea. This marks an escalation in China's military posture at a long-disputed feature with the Philippines, signaling enhanced surveillance and deterrence capabilities. The move follows a pattern of incremental military pressure in the area, though the specific operational intent remains unclear.