Chi returns seized US underwater drone

Washington, Dec 20: Chi on Tuesday returned the US unmanned underwater drone it seized last week in the disputed South Chi Sea, officials said. “After friendly consultations between Chi and the US, the transfer of the underwater drone was smoothly completed,” CNN cited a Chinese Defence Ministry statement as saying. According to the Pentagon, the US would continue to investigate the events surrounding the incident. A Chinese warship had been shadowing the Bowditch, a US val vessel, in the intertiol waters of the South Chi Sea. The Chinese then launched a small boat and stched the unmanned underwater vehicle, the Pentagon had said earlier. The seizure of the US drone by Chi in the intertiol waters of the South Chi Sea plunged the testy ties between the two countries to a new low. The two global powers vying for influence in the energy-rich waters through which trade worth $5 trillion passes every year. After the seizure on last Thursday, US President-elect Dold Trump reacted angrily on Twitter. “Chi steals United States vy research drone in intertiol waters - rips it out of water and takes it to Chi in unprecedented act.” Chi rejected the claim, saying its vy picked up the drone to prevent “harm” to freedom of vigation in the waters. The episode comes after Trump infuriated Beijing by talking to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen. A section in the US feels the seizure has to do with Trump’s talks with the first female President of Taiwan — a breakaway island which Chi claims as its own.  (IANS)