The Chinese Navy stole a US underwater drone belonging to HSNS Bowditch literally right in front of the American crew.

USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-62) transiting the Taiwan Strait on the way to the South China Sea (24 September). pic.twitter.com/doAB5kZg2x

The incident occurred in international waters in the South China Sea.

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CNN reported:

A US oceanographic vessel Thursday had its underwater drone stolen by a Chinese warship literally right in front of the eyes of the American crew, a US defense official told CNN Friday.

In the latest encounter in international waters in the South China Sea region, the USNS Bowditch was sailing about 100 miles off the port at Subic Bay when the incident occurred, according to the official.

Bowditch had stopped in the water to pick up two underwater drones. At that point a Chinese naval ship that had been shadowing the Bowditch put a small boat into the water. That small boat came up alongside and the Chinese crew took one of the drones.

The US got no answer from the Chinese on the radio when it said the drone was American property, the official said.

As they turned away, the Chinese did come up on the radio and indicated they were returning to their own operations.