China says its military seized a US 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. The Chinese navy on Thursday seized the drone, which the Pentagon said was being operated by civilian contractors to conduct oceanic research. The US lodged a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded the drone back.
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun issued a statement saying that a Chinese navy lifeboat discovered an unknown device in the South China Sea. "In order to prevent this device from posing a danger to the safe navigation of passing ships and personnel, the Chinese lifeboat adopted a professional and responsible attitude in investigating and verifying the device," Yang said.
