BBC Online :
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 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.
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. 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.
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 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.
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. 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.
