‘Right handling’
China official says navy’s seizure of US drone is discussed by 2 countries
BEIJING—China said Saturday that its military was in contact with its American counterparts on “appropriately handling” the Chinese navy’s seizure of a US Navy unmanned underwater glider, one of the most serious incidents between their militaries in years.
The one-sentence comment by the foreign ministry offered no details on what discussions were underway or why China on Thursday seized the drone, which, according to the Pentagon, was being operated by civilian contractors to conduct oceanic research. The US said it issued a formal diplomatic complaint over the seizure and demanded the drone’s return.
“According to (our) understanding, the US and Chinese sides are working on appropriately handling this matter through channels between the two militaries,” the foreign ministry said in its statement, which was faxed to The Associated Press.
China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to questions on the issue.
Incident
The drone was seized while collecting unclassified scientific data about 92 kms. northwest of Subic Bay near the Philippines in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said Friday .
Davis said that the incident could be the first time in recent history that China has taken a US naval vessel. Some observers have called it the most significant dispute between the sides’ militaries since the April 2001 mid-air collision between a US Navy surveillance aircraft and a Chinese fighter jet about 110 kms. from China’s Hainan island that led to the death of a Chinese pilot.
“It is ours. It’s clearly marked as ours. We would like it back, and we would like this not to happen again,” Davis told reporters. He said the drone costs about $150,000 and is largely commercial, off-the-shelf technology.
Whatever the outcome, the incident is likely to fray the already tense relations between US and China. Beijing was angered by President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to talk by phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Dec. 2, and by his later comments that he did not feel “bound by a oneChina policy” regarding the status of Taiwan, unless the US could gain trade or other benefits from China. China consid- ers the self-governing island its own territory to be recovered by force if it deems necessary.
Tension
There also have been increased tensions over Beijing’s ongoing military buildup in the South China Sea, mainly the development and militarization of man-made shoals and islands aimed at extending China’s reach in the strategically vital area through which about $5 trillion in global trade passes annually. (AP)