China, October 2, 2026, BNN Web Staff: China has expanded the use of drones, automated drone docking stations and counter-drone technology across Tibet, with the systems increasingly being incorporated into a wider surveillance network, according to a report by Tibet Watch.
The study, titled Eyes Above the Plateau: Drones, DJI, and the Aerial Architecture of Control in Tibet, was released on September 29 with research support from US-based non-profit organisation C4ADS. It examined Chinese government records dating back to 2017, including police procurement documents, tenders, training materials, flight restrictions and official notices.
According to Phayul, which reported on the study, Tibet Watch described the developments as an emerging “aerial architecture of control”, involving police stations and security agencies, including regional anti-terror units.
The report said drones were being procured for surveillance and what Chinese authorities refer to as “stability maintenance”, with deployments particularly documented in areas associated with protests, religious activity and opposition to government policies.
In Driru County, Tibet Watch identified what it described as the largest county-level police drone fleet, consisting of 18 aircraft. The drones were reportedly used for regular patrols in the area, which witnessed a government crackdown following protests in 2013.
The study also pointed to developments in Derge in eastern Tibet, where local police reportedly procured four automated DJI drone docking stations for a checkpoint along the Sichuan-Tibet road. The procurement reportedly took place around 15 months after protests linked to a hydropower project that threatened villages and monasteries.
Counter-drone capabilities have also expanded, according to the report. Lhasa police reportedly acquired equipment in 2021 designed to detect and jam unauthorised drones.
Phayul further reported that authorities imposed airspace restrictions over Lhasa and four other prefecture-level areas during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Tibet in August 2025. Authorities in Chamdo reportedly warned that unauthorised drones could be shot down.
The study also noted that since May 2026, newly manufactured drones in China have reportedly been required to be registered to the identities of their owners before operation.
Tibet Watch identified 12 procurement contracts involving DJI equipment supplied to government and security agencies operating in Tibetan areas. The contracts were valued at approximately 24.8 million yuan and included 15 aircraft reportedly procured for police operations in central Lhasa and around the Jokhang Temple.
The findings are based on publicly available Chinese government records and procurement documents reviewed by Tibet Watch, with the report examining how drone technology is being incorporated into security and surveillance operations across Tibetan areas.
