China seizes U.S. underwater drone, Pentagon says

A Chinese navy ship seized an underwater drone used by an American research vessel, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said the seizure happened Thursday 50 miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines.

The USNS Bowditch was recovering two underwater drones used to measure water conditions for the purposes of anti-submarine warfare when the Chinese vessel seized one of the two drones and “sailed off into



the distance,” Davis said.

The drones are called ocean gliders and are commercially available, so there is no sensitive technology on the drones.

Even though they are unmanned, the drones are considered covered by the same rules of sovereignty that would govern a manned U.S. ship.

“It is ours, and we would like it back, and we would like this not to happen again,” Davis said.

Davis said the U.S. has issued a formal diplomatic complaint.