Although a full-blown conflict between China and the US is unlikely, a senior Chinese military official has been quoted to say that claiming war is a “practical reality.” (Photo : Getty Images)
China's seizure of the U.S. underwater drone continues to stir tension despite an announcement from both countries that China would give the device back, The Wall Street Journal reported.
U.S. Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee criticized the U.S. own policies which he said have encouraged some countries while calling China's action as a "gross violation of international law."
"There's no strength on the part of the United States of America. Everybody's taking advantage of it. And hopefully that will change soon," McCain told CNN.
McCain's comments were made in response to the announcement by both the Pentagon and China's Defense Ministry on Saturday, Dec. 17, that China would return the drone that was seized in the South China Sea, Thursday, Dec. 15.
The report said that the device was retrieved by a Chinese navy rescue ship because it posed danger to ships and sailors.
Days before that, President-elect Donald Trump commented that his administration might consider repealing the "One-China policy" if China would not give concessions to U.S. interests as well as issues on trade, China's military presence in the South China Sea and North Korea's nuclear program.
In a television interview a week ago, Trump said: "I don't know why we have to be bound by a One-China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things."
On Saturday, Dec.17, after learning of the drone seizure, Trump wrote a message against China in his Twitter: "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters-rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act." In his initial tweet called the seizure an "unpresidented act" but he later corrected his error.
Reince Priebus, the incoming White House chief of staff said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Dec. 18, said that Trump's rhetoric was not aimed at provoking China.
"Look, I don't think it's all that provocative, to tell you the truth," Priebus said. "The Chinese ripped a drone out of the water. President-elect Trump said this is an unprecedented act, totally inappropriate . . . I think 80 percent of Americans think it is inappropriate to rip a drone out of the water."
Priebus also denied any change in the U.S.'s longstanding policy on Taiwan.
"We're not suggesting that we're revisiting One-China policy right now," the official said.
Taiwan has been regarded by China as a breakaway province since the Nationalist forces led by Chiang Kai-shek formed its own government, following the civil war in 1949.
In 1979, as a precondition for the restoration of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, the U.S. agreed to uphold the One-China policy and withdraw recognition of the Taiwan government.
