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China returns seized underwater US drone | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A US underwater drone seized by China last week has now been returned, the Pentagon has confirmed. | A US underwater drone seized by China last week has now been returned, the Pentagon has confirmed. |
The drone was handed over close to the location it was seized, some 92km north-west of Subic Bay. | The drone was handed over close to the location it was seized, some 92km north-west of Subic Bay. |
A statement said the US will "fly, sail, and operate in the South China Sea" where international law allows. | A statement said the US will "fly, sail, and operate in the South China Sea" where international law allows. |
China captured the vessel in international waters last Thursday, in one of the most serious confrontations between the powers in decades. | China captured the vessel in international waters last Thursday, in one of the most serious confrontations between the powers in decades. |
"After friendly consultations between the Chinese and U.S. sides, the handover was smoothly completed at midday", China's defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. | "After friendly consultations between the Chinese and U.S. sides, the handover was smoothly completed at midday", China's defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. |
The Pentagon had said the drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was being used to carry out scientific research at the time it was captured. | The Pentagon had said the drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was being used to carry out scientific research at the time it was captured. |
The latest statement described the incident as inconsistent with international law and codes of conduct between navies at sea, and that it would continue to investigate. | |
'Let them keep it' | |
A Chinese Navy ship seized the unmanned drone 92km (57 miles) north-west of Subic Bay near the Philippines in the South China Sea on Thursday. | |
The craft was retrieved and examined to maintain the safety of passing vessels, China's defence ministry said in a statement. | |
Although an agreement on the return of the drone was eventually reached, it did not come before sharp exchanges and a formal diplomatic complaint by the US. | |
US President-elect Donald Trump also accused the Chinese of "stealing". | |
"We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it!" he tweeted. | |
China's defence ministry later said that the vessel would be returned in an "appropriate manner", calling the US response "unhelpful". | |
Analysts believe this is likely to stoke US concerns about the growing military build-up by China in the South China Sea. | |
China has claimed territorial rights over parts of the region but its claims are disputed by several nations. |