US fumes after China seizes its drone from sea

THE United States has lodged a formal complaint to China after the Chinese seized an underwater drone operating beneath a US ship, which the Americans say was being used simply for oceanographic work.

The USNS Bowditch was sailing in international waters on Thursday, near the Philippines, when the incident took place. The research ship is owned by the US Navy but operated by Military Sealift Command.

As the American ship stopped to pick up two un- derwater drones, a Chinese naval ship that had been shadowing the Bowditch put a small boat into the water. That boat came alongside and the Chinese crew took one of the drones.

US officials said they radioed the Chinese to say the $150,000 (£120,000) drone was American property, but received no answer. As they turned away, the Chinese replied to say they were returning to their operations.

“The UUV was lawfully conducting a military survey in the waters of the South China Sea,” said a US official.

“It’s a sovereign immune vessel, clearly marked in English not to be removed from the water.”

The seized underwater drone was part of an unclassified programme to collect oceanographic data that could improve sonar use.

The seizure will add to concerns over China’s growing military presence in the disputed South China Sea.

A US think tank reported this week that China has installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea.

The US yesterday demanded the drone’s return, but China has not yet responded, Reuters was told.

China is still furious over Donald Trump accepting a call from the president of Taiwan – a country China considers to be its own.

Speaking at his final press conference as US president yesterday, Barack Obama said: “For China, the idea of Taiwan is as important as anything on their docket. The idea of ‘One China’ is central to their conception as a nation.

“If you are going to upend that, you have to be conscious of the consequences. They will not treat that like some other issues.”

‘It’s a sovereign vessel, marked not to be removed from the water’