The People’s Liberation Army used a drone to deliver cases of cash and gold bars in a field during a “wartime financial support” drill apparently simulating a Taiwan operation, according to a state media report.
A multi-rotor drone was used to drop the camouflage cases at designated locations during the exercise conducted by the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, national newspaper Defence Times said last week.
The report prompted heated discussion online and has since been deleted.
It included photos from the drill showing soldiers in tactical camouflage gear in a field counting bundles of NT$1,000 and US$100 notes, along with gold bars.
Also visible was a case with the PLA emblem marked “Settlement Office No 4, Nanjing Centralised Funds Receipt and Payment Management Centre”.
The report did not say where or when the drill was conducted and it was not clear if the cases of cash and gold were genuine.
During wartime, cash could be needed to pay for supplies and services, intelligence, compensation for collateral damage or for other expenses when it is not possible to access banking or electronic payment systems.