Beijing returns seized US underwater drone in ‘smooth’ handover at South China Sea

‘A US sea drone seized by China last week was returned at an agreed location in the South China Sea, Beijing has confirmed. Despite the potential for a serious confrontation, the US says it will “fly, sail, and operate” in the area as before.
“After friendly consultations between the Chinese and US sides, the handover work for the US underwater drone was smoothly completed in relevant waters in the South China Sea at midday on December 20,” the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a brief statement cited by Reuters.
The Pentagon has already confirmed that its unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was returned to the US “near the location it had been unlawfully seized.”’
Read more: Beijing returns seized US underwater drone in ‘smooth’ handover at South China Sea