According to reports, the U.S. may dispatch the "Global Hawk" unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor China's Air Defense Identification Zone. Military expert Du Wenlong told the press in an interview that if they are able to reach the air defense identification zone, it will offer a rare opportunity for China to take anti-reconnaissance measures against such UAVs.

Du Wenlong explained that the reason why the U.S. plans to deploy the "Global Hawk" UAVis that it is a global strategic unmanned reconnaissance aircraft with a longer early warning time and a broader reconnaissance range than some manned scouts; its maximum flight duration can reach 40 hours. Therefore the drones are more durable than conventional manned aircraft, and in operation over a specified region in multiple modes they are able to implement continuous reconnaissance on targets in the air and on the sea for extended periods of time.

According to Du Wenlong, if the "Global Hawk" is deployed in the Air Defense Identification Zone, it will be able to implement highly-efficient early identification of all possible targets in the air and on the sea within the whole area. It will also be able to rapidly discover any Chinese fighters already cruising within the area, and likewise obtain information on any fighter takeoffs if its flight course or cruise area is close to China's coast. It will therefore be able to provide advance signals support for US formations on overseas missions. If the "Global Hawk" cooperates with early warning aircraft, they will have the capacity to provide a comprehensive air reconnaissance and command system.

Du Wenlong also pointed out that if the "Global Hawk" is able to reach China's Air Defense Identification Zone, this will also provide a very good opportunity to conduct counter-reconnaissance, since it will be under Chinese surveillance while carrying out its own surveillance activity. Such opportunities are very rare.