China’s Military Drone YILO4200 Conducts Masked Flights Near Taiwan and South China Sea

Since August, China's military drone YILO4200 has conducted at least 23 flights over the South China Sea near disputed islands and Taiwan, transmitting false transponder signals to mimic other aircraft, including a Belarusian cargo plane and a British fighter jet. Analysts view these operations as advanced deception tactics potentially linked to rehearsals for Taiwan contingencies, aiming to confuse adversaries and test electronic warfare capabilities. China’s defense ministry has not commented on the flights.