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| China, US militaries 'in talks' over underwater drone seizure | China, US militaries 'in talks' over underwater drone seizure |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Military officials from China and the US are in talks over the return of an underwater drone seized by the Chinese in international waters, China says. | Military officials from China and the US are in talks over the return of an underwater drone seized by the Chinese in international waters, China says. |
| The Chinese navy seized the US research vessel in the South China Sea on Thursday. | The Chinese navy seized the US research vessel in the South China Sea on Thursday. |
| The incident - among the most serious between the two powers in years - took place just as oceanographic ship the USNS Bowditch was about to retrieve it. | The incident - among the most serious between the two powers in years - took place just as oceanographic ship the USNS Bowditch was about to retrieve it. |
| The device was being used to carry out scientific tests, US officials say. | The device was being used to carry out scientific tests, US officials say. |
| China confirmed the talks in a brief statement on Saturday. | China confirmed the talks in a brief statement on Saturday. |
| "According to [our] understanding, the US and Chinese sides are working on appropriately handling this matter through channels between the two militaries," China's foreign ministry said. | "According to [our] understanding, the US and Chinese sides are working on appropriately handling this matter through channels between the two militaries," China's foreign ministry said. |
| Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said the unmanned drone was being operated by civilian contractors to conduct oceanic research. | Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said the unmanned drone was being operated by civilian contractors to conduct oceanic research. |
| Mr Davis said a formal diplomatic complaint had been issued over the seizure and demanded that China return the device. | Mr Davis said a formal diplomatic complaint had been issued over the seizure and demanded that China return the device. |
| He said: "It is ours. It's clearly marked as ours. We would like it back, and we would like this not to happen again." | He said: "It is ours. It's clearly marked as ours. We would like it back, and we would like this not to happen again." |
| The drone was seized 92km (57 miles) north-west of Subic Bay near the Philippines in the South China Sea. China has claimed rights over parts of the region but its claims are disputed. | The drone was seized 92km (57 miles) north-west of Subic Bay near the Philippines in the South China Sea. China has claimed rights over parts of the region but its claims are disputed. |
| Relations between the two powers had already been tested by President-elect Donald Trump's decision to speak on the phone earlier this month with the leader of Taiwan, breaking a long-standing US practice on the China-Taiwan dispute. | Relations between the two powers had already been tested by President-elect Donald Trump's decision to speak on the phone earlier this month with the leader of Taiwan, breaking a long-standing US practice on the China-Taiwan dispute. |
| On Saturday Mr Trump accused China of "stealing" the drone in a "unprecedented" act. | |
| But he was mocked by Twitter users for misspelling the word. | |
| Observers said the seizure of the drone was the most significant military incident between the two countries since a 2001 mid-air collision between a US Navy surveillance aircraft and a Chinese fighter jet that led to the death of a Chinese pilot. | Observers said the seizure of the drone was the most significant military incident between the two countries since a 2001 mid-air collision between a US Navy surveillance aircraft and a Chinese fighter jet that led to the death of a Chinese pilot. |
| 'A remarkably brazen violation' | 'A remarkably brazen violation' |
| The seizure will likely add to US concerns about the growing military build-up by China in the South China Sea. | The seizure will likely add to US concerns about the growing military build-up by China in the South China Sea. |
| A US think tank reported this week that aerial imagery shows that China has installed weaponry along seven artificial islands they have built at sea, despite US protests. | A US think tank reported this week that aerial imagery shows that China has installed weaponry along seven artificial islands they have built at sea, despite US protests. |
| In November 2015, two US B-52 bomber planes flew over the man-made islands, known as the Spratly Islands. | In November 2015, two US B-52 bomber planes flew over the man-made islands, known as the Spratly Islands. |
| Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, called the seizure "a remarkably brazen violation of international law". | Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, called the seizure "a remarkably brazen violation of international law". |
| Senior Republican Senator John McCain said the US should not tolerate "such outrageous conduct", adding that "this brazen provocation fits a pattern of increasingly destabilizing Chinese behaviour, including bullying its neighbours and militarising the South China Sea". | Senior Republican Senator John McCain said the US should not tolerate "such outrageous conduct", adding that "this brazen provocation fits a pattern of increasingly destabilizing Chinese behaviour, including bullying its neighbours and militarising the South China Sea". |
| More on the South China Sea dispute | More on the South China Sea dispute |
| Flying close to Beijing's new South China Sea islands | Flying close to Beijing's new South China Sea islands |
| What is the "One China" policy? | What is the "One China" policy? |