Peering Over the Nine-Dashed Wall at Sea

China claims the bulk of the South China Sea in defiance of international law. America will sell drones to four states with competing claims so they can keep tabs on what China is doing there:

The Pentagon announced on [May 31st] it would sell 34 ScanEagle drones, made by Boeing Co. to the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam for a total of $47 million.

China claims almost all of the strategic South China Sea and frequently lambastes the United States and its allies over naval operations near Chinese-occupied islands. Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims.

Surveillance drones don't stop China. But they do make sure China can't hide or deny what it is doing as effectively.