China Returns US Underwater Drone Seized In South China Sea

“Everybody’s taking advantage of it, and hopefully that will change soon”.

China has long opposed American patrols and surveillance within its exclusive economic zone, while the US views anything beyond 12 nautical miles as worldwide waters in which military activities can take place. A United States destroyer would likely receive the drone, although the mechanics of the exchange were unclear. “I hope that the time that it will take us to put our relations back on track will be shorter for President Trump”, said the acting Chinese envoy.

China’s capture of the drone triggered a diplomatic protest and speculation about whether it will strengthen U.S. They are used to collect unclassified data about oceans, including temperature and depth.

Others also have suggested that China keep the drone, considering what state agents might have done to it.

The crew of US guided missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89) recovered the glider from the crew of the People’s Army Liberation Navy Dalang III vessel that took the unmanned glider from waters near the Philippines last week.

The Chinese navy on Thursday seized the drone, which the Pentagon said was being operated by civilian contractors to conduct oceanic research.

The maritime incident took place just days after Trump’s comment on the so-called ‘One China policy, ‘ which states that the worldwide community can maintain formal diplomatic relations with either China or Taiwan, but not both.

Asked about Trump’s comments, Hua said describing the drone as stolen was “completely incorrect”. “The Chinese side will stay vigilant about that”, she said. “I don’t know if you’d want that drone back”.

Detail surrounding how the drone will exactly be delivered back to the US have not been decided yet, but a Pentagon official said it will happen “soon”. Pentagon officials have sought to be firm without escalating the incident.

The seizure of the glider prompted an early clash between Beijing and President-elect Donald Trump ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday that the drone incident, which happened near his country’s territorial waters and within its internationally recognized Exclusive Economic Zone, “is very troubling”. He said that the USNS Bowditch carries some small arms, but that no shots were fired.

In line with the establishment of U.S.

The gap between China and the United States in terms of national strength and worldwide influence has further narrowed this year.

Comments made by the United States president-elect have sparked concern among Chinese people.

“The U.S. remains committed to upholding the accepted principles and norms of worldwide law and freedom of navigation”, Cook said in the statement. China’s interactions with the U.S. on the regional security and economic orders, combined with its political stability and relatively decent economic growth, speak volumes about Beijing’s proposal at major events such as the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang province, to build an inclusive global order.

“We will not allow a shared domain to be closed down unilaterally no matter how many bases are built on artificial features in the South China Sea”, Adm. Harry Harris, head of U.S. Pacific Command, explained at the Lowy Institute Wednesday.