U.S. to sell 34 surveillance drones to allies in South China Sea region

FILE PHOTO - U.S. ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are displayed at a hangar before a transfer from the U.S. to the Philippine Air Force at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay city, Metro Manila, Philippines March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration has moved ahead with a surveillance drone sale to four U.S. allies in the South China Sea region as acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Washington will no longer "tiptoe" around Chinese behaviour in Asia.

The drones would afford greater intelligence gathering capabilities potentially curbing Chinese activity in the region.