China's Defence Ministry says it had returned a American underwater drone to the United States. It taken by a Chinese naval vessel in the South China Sea last week.

The ministry said in a short statement, that, "After friendly consultations between the Chinese and US sides, the handover work for the US underwater drone was smoothly completed in relevant waters in the South China Sea at midday on December 20."

The Reuters reported, the defense ministry declined to give more details about the handover.

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement, that, "The U.S. remains committed to upholding the accepted principles and norms of international law and freedom of navigation and overflight and will continue to fly, sail, and operate in the South China Sea wherever international law allows."

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "The handling of this incident shows that the Chinese and US militaries have quite smooth communication channels. We think that this communication channel is beneficial to timely communication and the handling of sudden incidents and prevention of miscalculations and misunderstandings."

"As to what the U.S. defense department said, I have to verify it with the military. But I think what they said is unreasonable as we have always said that for a long time the U.S. military has regularly sent ships and aircraft to carry out close up surveillance and military surveys in waters facing China, which threatens China's sovereignty and security," Hua added.

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Nandini