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U.S., China Discussing Drone Seizure Through Military Channels

USNS Bowditch
USNS Bowditch

A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry says that American and Chinese officials are “appropriately handling” China’s seizure of a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) by communicating through military channels.

“It is understood that China and the United States are using military channels to appropriately handle this issue,” the ministry said in a brief statement.

Oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch had stopped in international waters about 100 miles off of the Philippine coast to pick up a pair of underwater survey drones. A Chinese warship that had been tailing the Bowditch then sent out a small craft and stole one of the drones before the American crew could recover it.

Repeated radio calls from the Bowditch demanding the return of U.S. property were ignored.

In a statement, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that the Pentagon is demanding the return of the “unlawfully seized” underwater drone.

“We call upon China to return our UUV immediately, and to comply with all of its obligations under international law,” the statement read.

President-elect Trump used Twitter to speak out against the Chinese theft of U.S. property.

China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters – rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act.

Seaglider UUV
An oceanographer from the Naval Oceanographic Office, right, establishes a satellite connection before launching a seaglider unmanned underwater vessel from the Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson on March 24, 2010. (Credit: U.S. Navy / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lily Daniels)

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Rich Mitchell

Rich Mitchell is the editor-in-chief of Conservative Daily News and the president of Bald Eagle Media, LLC. His posts may contain opinions that are his own and are not necessarily shared by Bald Eagle Media, CDN, staff or .. much of anyone else. Find him on twitter, facebook and

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One Comment

  1. Hmmmmm wonder if Administration included a single reference to the ‘islands’ China is using to stash weapons in International waters……Of course not!! The next 3 weeks will be salted with act of aggression before a real man is in charge…Trump is not taking the job to be ‘liked’. and wants America to thrive. I’m sure the rest of the world is sitting and wondering “What” Trump does…One thing they can be sure of is that he won’t bow or apologize….He catches more bees with honey than salt….it’s “The Art of the Deal’

    Rich, your coverage during this election cycle has been great and others also have given some good information…..

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