UPDATE - China returns underwater drone to US

ADDS US REACTION

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING (AA) – China has returned to the United States an underwater drone seized in the South China Sea, according to China’s defense ministry Tuesday.

State news agency Xinhua cited a ministry statement as saying the handover at noon came after “friendly consultation” and was conducted “smoothly” in the sea.

According to the Pentagon, the U.S. Navy ocean glider was collecting oceanographic data when it was seized by a Dalang Class Chinese ship 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines last week.

The U.S. had issued a formal diplomatic complaint over the “unlawful seizure” in what became the latest confrontation between China and the U.S. in the region.

China’s defense ministry responded by saying that the “unidentified” device was seized to ensure the “safe navigation of passing ships” and that the U.S. had “hyped up” the matter.

That explanation did not sit well at the U.S. State Department where spokesman John Kirby sharply criticized the comments saying China was in "flagrant violation of international law".

Kirby said there is no doubt about who the vessel belonged to when it was seized in international waters.

"There was no threat to navigation," he told reporters. "We're glad we have it back. It should never have been taken in the first place. End of story," he added.

*Anadolu Agency Washington Correspondent Michael Hernandez contributed to this report