Chinese warship seizes underwater US Navy drone in the South China Sea during live firing exercise
A CHINESE warship has STOLEN a US Navy drone, prompting fears of World War III.
The capture took place yesterday in the South China sea right in front of the crew of an American ship.
Shocked US defence officials have demanded it is returned and the incident has triggered a formal complaint from the States.
The USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic survey ship, was about to retrieve the unmanned underwater vehicle when it was snatched by a Chinese warship.
The Bowdich stopped to collect the drone when a boat dropped into the water from the warship in front, pulled alongside the US vessel and grabbed the drone.
When the US ship radioed to say the drone was American, they received no reply - before the Chinese responded to say they were 'returning to normal operations' and left the area.
It's common for US research vessels to be followed in Chinese waters over fears they are spying - but the boat was simply measuring ocean conditions.
Earlier, China deployed an aircraft carrier group as part of huge seaborne war games amid tensions over Taiwan and its island-building in the South China Sea.
The drills by the North Korean ally took place in the Bohai Sea close to South Korea.
It involved several warplanes and destroyers, Chinese naval sources confirmed.
More than 10 air-to-air, ship-to-air, and air missiles were also launched in a show of power.
Rear Admiral Chen Yueqi described the exercise as a “milestone” for the Chinese Navy.
"It enabled us to find out how to organise a carrier battle group exercise and to test the training levels of our sailors and pilots,” the unit’s commander told state broadcaster CCTV.
“It can also increase the battle group’s efforts to become combat ready as soon as possible.”
China was outraged by Donald Trump receiving a call from the Taiwan president on December 2.
Self-ruling Taiwan is regarded by Chinese Communist bosses as a breakaway province.
Further afield, China is accused of trying to take over the mineral rich South China Sea islands.
In August, the Chinese navy announced it is preparing for a “cruel and short war” over the sea territories which claimed by several other countries.
Japan said in September it would be giving military aid to countries contesting the waters, such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
It will also join patrols in the South China Seas with the US Navy.
At the end of November tensions flared between China and Japan after Beijing sent fighter jets and bombers through a disputed sea area.
The Chinese Air Force carried out drills in the Western Pacific, flying through the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan and the Philippines and the Miyako Strait near Japan’s Okinawa island.
Then on Wednesday, it emerged that China had “installed weapons” including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems on all seven of the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said its findings come despite statements by the Chinese leadership that Beijing has no intention to militarise the islands.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy Only has one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which is an ex-Ukrainian ship.
The struggling eastern European country sold off in 1998 to raise cash.
But China, a rising nation of 1.3billion people, is currently building its own with ambitions to become a top navy in the Pacific.
And the new aircraft carrier will joining a massive fleet of more than 400 ships which puts it behind the US in terms of strength and well ahead of the Royal Navy.
Vladimir Putin's Russia is also building up its navy.
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