UPDATE 1-Chinese, U.S. militaries discuss return of undersea drone – Foreign Ministry

The Chinese and U.S. militaries are having "unimpeded" talks about the return of U.S. underwater drone taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week, China's foreign ministry said on Monday. The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle , was taken on Thursday in waters off the coast of the Philippines, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory.

China: Foreign ministry says talks with U.S. over sea drone return underway

The oceanographic survey ship, USNS Bowditch, which deployed an underwater drone seized by the Chinese navy in South China Sea, Dec 16, 2016. Source: U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters THE Chinese and U.S. militaries are having "unimpeded" talks about the return of U.S. underwater drone taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week, China's foreign ministry said on Monday.

Beijing sees US drone as part of South China Sea spying efforts

China is deeply suspicious of any US military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirely. An underwater drone taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week is part of US surveillance efforts in the disputed waterway, but Beijing won't likely make a big fuss about its handover, Chinese state media and experts said.

China says it seized US Navy drone to ensure safety of ships

China says its military seized a U.S. Navy unmanned underwater glider in the South China Sea but it will give the drone back. But President-elect Donald Trump says the Chinese government should be told "we don't want the drone they stole back" and "let them keep it!" This comes after United States officials had confirmed that they "secured an understanding" for the return of the device.

Donald Trump accuses China of ‘unpresidented’ action in capturing US drone

Donald Trump yesterday accused China of "unpresidented" action in its capture of a US drone, risking a diplomatic crisis that both sides had been seeking to avoid. China said it would return the US navy's unmanned underwater glider, which it seized on Thursday , "in an appropriate manner" after behind-the- scenes talks with the US, which had lodged a formal complaint over the incident.

Trump says US should let China keep the drone

President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday on Twitter the United States should let China keep the U.S. Navy's unmanned underwater glider that it seized in the South China Sea. "We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!" Trump tweeted a few hours after the U.S. military announced it had reached an understanding with China for the return of the underwater glider.

Donald Trump targets China; tweets ‘we don’t want the drone they stole back’

China said Saturday its military seized a US Navy unmanned underwater glider in the South China Sea but it would give the drone back. But President-elect Donald Trump tweeted later that the Chinese government should be told "we don't want the drone they stole back" and "let them keep it!" This comes after United States officials had confirmed that they 'secured an understanding' for the return of the device.

Trump: China Can Keep The Drone They Stole

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the USA Thank You Tour event at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center in West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S., December 13, 2016. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton President-elect Donald Trump criticized China Saturday for unlawfully seizing a U.S. naval research drone operating legally in international waters in the South China Sea.

China to return seized US drone, says US ‘hyping up’ incident

BEIJING/WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.: China's Defence Ministry said on Saturday it plans to return an underwater U.S. drone seized this week by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea, but complained the United States was "hyping up" the incident. The drone was taken on Thursday, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory.

Chinese navy seizes U.S. drone in first serious incident between militaries in years

China did it to to ensure 'safe navigation of passing ships' while the Pentagon says the drone was being used for oceanic research - they have filed a formal complaint and want their drone back. BEIJING-China said Saturday that its military seized a U.S. Navy unmanned underwater glider in the South China Sea to ensure the “safe navigation of passing ships,” in one of the most serious incidents between the two militaries in years.

‘Making words great again’: Internet ridicules Trump for…

President-elect Donald Trump kicked off his Saturday morning complaining about the seizure of an American underwater drone by the Chinese only to have everyone ridicule him for coining the word "unpresidented" - which some called a Freudian slip. Addressing the taking of the boat, Trump tweeted : "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act."

Donald Trump slams China for seizing US naval drone in SCS5 min ago

Washington, Dec 17 : President-elect Donald Trump today slammed China for seizing an American naval drone in international waters of the disputed South China Sea, even as the Pentagon demanded its immediate release amid outrage from US lawmakers. "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act," Trump said in a tweet this morning.