Rumors of War - Kings of the East

AP - Report: China is driving use of armed drones in Middle East
The AP reports: "The report by the Royal United Services Institute, or RUSI, found that more and more Mideast countries have acquired armed drones, either by importing them, such as Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, or by building them domestically like Israel, Iran and Turkey. China has won sales in the Middle East and elsewhere by offering drones — otherwise known as UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles — at lower prices and without the political conditions attached by the United States."

Comment: This report highlights the growing connection China has to the Middle East and suggests this role as an arms supplier will increase conflict in the region by changing the ways countries deploy air power. The interest in the region by eastern military powers has long been anticipated by the BP community and it is both alarming and exciting to see these links being firmly established and reported on in mainstream news media.