China is bolstering its lead in resource exploration and any conflicts in the South China Sea, a sea disputed by five other governments, by stepping up deployment of expendable, cost-effective drones, analysts believe. “The drone is of course a very ideal sort of spy,” said Alan Chong, an Assoc Prof at RSIS. He added, “Drones are in a sense more expendable than aircraft. If they’re shot down, China would raise a protest, but that’s it.”