Recent reported incursions into restricted airspace by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, more commonly known as drones, have re-ignited the debate about China's management and regulation of its rapidly-increasing number of civilian drones. The latest incident happened just last week at southern China's Kunming Airport, but the problem is nationwide.

One key incident happened in December 2013, when a drone was detected flying over Beijing Capital International Airport. It turned out to be owned and operated by a local company that was carrying out mapping operations of the airport. The departure of 10 civilian flights was delayed as a result. Later, three people who flew the drone were convicted of endangering public security. That was crucial as it was the first criminal case in China involving the illegal operation of drones.

In 2015, the Civil Aviation Administration of China introduced provisional regulations on the operation of drones. Looser restrictions were unveiled for rural or less populated areas, while major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have much stricter regulations, especially for drones weighing more than seven kilograms. Major drone manufacturers like DJI have taken it upon themselves to help out in these efforts by pre-setting restricted areas such as airports and military zones in the drones' operating system. However, given the explosive growth in the use of civilian drones in China, management and regulation are still very much playing catch up.

China is one of the biggest manufacturers and buyers of drones globally. Market research firm IDC says sales of commercial-quality drones in China will hit 950,000 units by 2019. At the same time, of the more than 500 drone makers worldwide, 80 percent are Chinese. The vast majority of drones being used here are lightweight and feature very simple functions. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of China, nearly 90 percent of civilian drones in China weigh less than 25 kilograms and have a maximum altitude capability of 150 meters.‍

In terms of use, aerial photography is perhaps the most popular. Agriculture is another major area of use. From crop spraying to assessing plant health and hydration. As far as the agricultural sector is concerned, imagination is the only limit when it comes to the application of drone technology.