According to the South China Morning Post, China is considering turning disputed islands into robotic strongholds where unmanned systems, rather than large numbers of troops, would play the central role in defense.
The report cites research by specialists from the China Coast Guard Academy and Dalian Maritime University. Their proposal calls for a unified network of aerial, surface and underwater unmanned platforms capable of coordinating their actions.
Instead of relying on a conventional defense model built around a permanent military presence, the researchers suggest using combat robots operating as an integrated system. They argue that this approach could make island defenses more resilient against mass attacks by low-cost kamikaze drones.
The concept reflects broader changes in naval warfare, according to the SCMP. Traditional defensive arrangements are becoming increasingly vulnerable to unmanned systems that can be deployed in large numbers at relatively low cost.
The researchers said their work focuses on finding a practical way to use unmanned systems in the complex environment of nearby coastal waters, with particular attention to unmanned surface vessels.