China’s seizure of an underwater drone of the US Navy near the territorial waters of the Philippines in the South China Sea is “very troubling,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.
The incident increases the risks of “miscalculations” that could lead to “open confrontation,” according to Lorenzana.
“This incident in our exclusive economic zone and very near our territorial waters (50 nautical miles northwest from Subic) is very troubling,” Lorenzana said in a statement.
“Not only does it increase the likelihood of miscalculations that could lead to open confrontation very near the Philippine mainland but the commission of activities other than incident passage which impinge upon the right of the Philippines over the resources in its EEZ are violations of the Philippine rights over its EEZ,” he also said.
The drone was launched on Thursday from a US ship when a Chinese naval vessel seized the drone just when it was about to be retrieved by the Americans. The Pentagon slammed China for the confiscation of the drone, saying it was an act of stealing property. They claimed that the drone had been doing scientific research.
China said they have decided to return the drone but both sides are still working on it.
Lorenzana said that US and China should reach “an amicable resolution” on the matter so that the incident will not happen again./ac