Continuing to take jabs at China, President-elect Donald Trump today said the US should let China keep the Navy's underwater drone after Beijing agreed to give back the unmanned glider that it seized in the disputed South China Sea.
"We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back - let them keep it!" Trump tweeted, hours after Pentagon announced it had reached an understanding with China for the return of the drone.
The Pentagon on Saturday informed that China has agreed to return the US underwater drone that it seized in the international waters last week, media reports said on Sunday.
"We have registered our objection to China's unlawful seizure of a US unmanned underwater vehicle operating... in the South China Sea. Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement.
"We have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the US," Cook's statement said.
Details were not immediately available on when or how the drone might be returned.
Earlier, Trump accused China of stealing American drone.
"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented (sic) act," Trump tweeted, misspelling unprecedented.
China yesterday slammed the US for "making a fuss" over the seizure of its underwater drone and said it will return the device in an "appropriate manner".
Defence Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun dismissed the US allegations, insisting that China seized the underwater glider to ensure the safe navigation of passing ships.
(With PTI inputs)
