Takeaways on China’s Theft of a US Drone in Philippine Waters in the South China Sea

China returned a US underwater drone taken from the South China Sea. The US Department of Defense reports the buoyancy glider was seized about 90 kilometers northwest of Subic Bay. China claims the removal was for safety reasons, but also opposes US reconnaissance activities in the sea. “The development is effectively unprecedented in U.S.-China military-to-military interactions,” notes Ankit Panda for the Diplomat. Analysts suggest that such incidents can “gauge the temperament” of a new US administration. The US transition is set for January 20, which along with the Philippines seeking closer ties with China complicates a US response. Legal experts describe the seizure as illegal under the UN Convention on the Law of Sea, which China signed and ratified. The US signed but did not ratify the treaty. “Beijing, in particular, differentiates between freedom of navigation for military and civilian vessels in exclusive economic zones – a distinction that does not exist under international law,” Panda concludes. A “‘big picture’ takeaway is that this is the first instance of a Chinese naval vessel illegally seizing the assets of a third-party navy within the exclusive economic zone of another South China Sea claimant state.” – YaleGlobal