China is planning to set up two drone bases for surveillance of coastal waters.

One will be built in the coastal city of Yingkou in northeast China's Liaoning Province to cover the Bohai Sea area.

The other will be constructed in Dalian to cover parts of the Yellow Sea.

Senior Colonel Du Wenlong says the idea of using drones is to boost surveillance over disputed islands.

"Over disputed islands, such as the Diaoyu Islands, we do not lag behind in terms of the number of patrol vessels or the frequency of patrolling. The problem lies in our surveillance capabilities. For example, around the Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese authority is able to identify vessels approaching the area very quickly, and this is exactly what we are lack of."

Du says the drones, which rely on high-definition remote sensing, are capable of performing aerial surveillance over a long period of time.

Earlier, the State Oceanic Administration said 11 drone bases would be built along China's coastline.

At least one drone will be stationed at each base.