Joe Raedle/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — After the Pentagon said earlier Saturday that a U.S. drone seized by China would be returned, President-elect Donald Trump later tweeted that China should “keep it.”
“We should tell China that we don’t want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!” he tweeted Saturday night.
We should tell China that we don’t want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2016
The unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) was seized by a Chinese government vessel in international waters in the South China Sea on Thursday. It was being used for research by the USNS Bowditch, a U.S Navy oceanographic vessel, according to U.S. officials.
The Pentagon announced Saturday that they had “secured an understanding” that China would return the UUV.
“We have registered our objection to China’s unlawful seizure of a U.S. unmanned underwater vehicle operating in international waters in the South China Sea,” said Peter Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, in a statement Saturday. “Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the United States.”
Earlier Saturday Trump tweeted about the drone: “China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters – rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act.”
China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters – rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2016
Trump did not mention the drone’s return at the final rally of his “Thank You” tour in Mobile, Alabama, but his communications director boasted Saturday in a tweet referencing the UUV’s return that Trump “gets it done.”
@realdonaldtrump gets it done: “China says it will return US drone it seized https://t.co/xevxLTlIP3“
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) December 17, 2016
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