China Coast Guard may have deployed Wing Loong II drone for first time near Taiwan.

Illustrative images released by the China Coast Guard on December 30, 2025, suggest the operational use of the Wing Loong II unmanned aerial vehicle during the Justice Mission-2025 exercise. If confirmed, this would mark the first publicly documented appearance of the MALE drone in a coast guard mission, highlighting a potential shift in China’s maritime law enforcement capabilities.

An illustrative image published on December 30 by the official social media account of the China Coast Guard appears to indicate the use of the Wing Loong II, also known as the GJ-2, unmanned aerial vehicle during the Justice Mission-2025 exercise. While the images reference the platform in an operational context, they stop short of explicitly detailing its role, leaving open the possibility that the drone was employed in a limited or evaluative capacity. Nonetheless, the release represents the first public visual association of the Wing Loong II with a coast guard mission, following confirmation that the platform entered China Coast Guard service in March 2025.
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The integration of the Wing Loong II into the CCG substantially enhances China’s capacity to monitor sensitive maritime zones in near real time, deter incursions, and respond quickly to emerging situations. (Picture source: Weibo Channel @微博 中国海警)

This confirmation is supported by a report published on March 31, 2025, by Legal Daily (法制网), covering a live exercise conducted by the China Coast Guard. During this operation, the Wing Loong II drone was clearly identified, bearing official CCG markings. The report indicated that China had equipped its coast guard with a large-scale drone capable of conducting both reconnaissance and strike missions. This development represents a significant change for China’s paramilitary forces, bringing capabilities traditionally associated with the air force or export customers into the hands of a law enforcement agency.

Manufactured by AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China), the Wing Loong II is an advanced iteration of the earlier Wing Loong I. It features a wingspan of 20.5 meters, a length of 11 meters, a height of 4.1 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 4.2 tons, and a payload capacity of up to 480 kilograms. It is powered by a rear-mounted turbocharged engine with a three-bladed propeller, allowing for a top speed of 370 km/h, a service ceiling of 9,900 meters, and a flight endurance exceeding 20 hours. Its satellite communications system enables long-range control over distances of more than 2,000 kilometers, covering the full expanse of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Imagery from both March and December 2025 shows a version of the drone that appears unarmed but fully equipped with sensor systems, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electro-optical/infrared cameras, and a laser rangefinder-designator. These systems allow for continuous day and night surveillance, in all weather conditions, of maritime vessels, suspicious activity, and military movements. According to Chinese analysts, the integration of the Wing Loong II into the CCG substantially enhances China’s capacity to monitor sensitive maritime zones in near real time, deter incursions, and respond quickly to emerging situations.

Although the drone is designed to carry up to 12 guided munitions (such as the Blue Arrow 21 missile or 250 kg laser-guided bombs), the version operated by the coast guard appears to be deliberately unarmed or lightly equipped. Nonetheless, Chinese media have emphasized that the platform retains its “reconnaissance-strike integration” capability (即察即打), signaling a deterrent posture toward Taiwan and other South China Sea coastal states.

Operationally, the Wing Loong II significantly surpasses manned helicopters or patrol ships in terms of coverage, endurance, and response speed. Its ability to conduct 20-hour patrols enables near-continuous surveillance with only a small number of units. Integrated into the CCG’s growing fleet of large-displacement patrol ships, including 10,000-ton cutters and former PLA Navy Type 054A and 056A frigates, the drone acts as a strategic force multiplier.

The adoption of such a system by the coast guard represents more than a technical upgrade; it reflects a deeper doctrinal shift. China is demonstrating its intent to embed military-grade capabilities within paramilitary law enforcement structures, legally framing its maritime presence in a way that complicates engagement rules for opposing forces. This contributes to the growing use of “grey zone” tactics, where the boundary between law enforcement and military operations becomes increasingly ambiguous.

The Justice Mission-2025 exercise is part of a broader pattern of high-intensity Chinese military drills aimed at increasing strategic pressure on Taiwan. Launched in December 2025 under joint command of the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command and the China Coast Guard, the exercise mobilized a wide range of forces: naval, air, ground, cyber-electronic units, and both reconnaissance and armed drones. Unlike previous iterations, Justice Mission-2025 explicitly incorporated paramilitary forces into scenarios simulating blockades, island seizures, and maritime interdiction. This points to an evolving hybrid doctrine that combines military deterrence with legal and administrative pressure.