ALERT: China Has SEIZED US Sea Vessel, Pentagon Demanding Their Cooperation

ALERT: China Has SEIZED US Sea Vessel, Pentagon Demanding Their Cooperation

The Pentagon is demanding China return a stolen U.S. underwater drone. They claim that the device was seized by a Chinese warship near an American oceanographic vessel.

The encounter took place in international waters, where international law applies. Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook is calling for China to act in accordance with those laws and return the unmanned underwater vehicle.

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From CNN:

“We call upon China to return our UUV immediately, and to comply with all of its obligations under international law,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement, using the abbreviation for “unmanned underwater vehicle.”

In the latest encounter in international waters in the South China Sea region, the USNS Bowditch was sailing about 100 miles off the port at Subic Bay when the incident occurred, according to the official.

It’s being reported that Bowditch has stopped to pick up two UUVs when a Chinese warship – which had been following the American vessel – lowered a boat into the water and the crew grabbed one of the drones.

When the crew of the Bowditch radioed the Chinese ship, telling them to return the property, they received no reply. However, they did come onto the radio to say that they were going to continue their operations.

It’s unclear what motivated the theft of the American drone, or when we will get it back.

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