China Warns Trump; Seizes U.S. Drone, Sends Nuclear Bomber
By Rakesh Raman
China is in no hurry to return the U.S. Navy underwater drone that it captured in South China Sea. The U.S. Defense Department has called upon China to immediately return the unmanned underwater vehicle.
According to Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook, China seized the drone unlawfully on Thursday in the South China Sea.
A Chinese military source confirmed with state media Global Times that they received on Saturday a “claim request” from the U.S. for the drone after a Chinese warship seized it during a security check in the South China Sea. China hopes that the incident will be resolved successfully, without stating its terms for the release of the seized drone.
Meanwhile, the U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has blamed China for stealing the drone in international waters.
China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters – rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2016
Warning to Trump
A week ago, China flew a nuclear-capable bomber over South China Sea to send a warning message to Trump after the businessman-cum-president-elect spoke with the president of Taiwan, a disputed territory on which China stakes its claim.
Trump’s call with Taiwan’s President Tsai ling-wen broke the 1979 protocol that prohibits American officials from interacting directly with the Taiwan president under the “one-China” policy which treats Taiwan as part of China.
Although China had lodged its protest with the U.S. administration, Trump said he is free to interact with any world leader without following the old U.S. policies particularly toward China. Trump believes that China is stealing American jobs and hitting U.S. businesses with currency manipulations.
China, which is the world’s top economic and military power, did not take time to warn Trump that the going will get tough for Trump if he tried to show his arrogance to China.
Trump Presidency
Meanwhile, a massive campaign is underway to block Trump presidency. At this stage, 306 electors are expected to vote Trump by December 19.
However, if 37 of them decide to vote against him, Trump may not be the President because a minimum of 270 electoral votes are required to become the President.
A letter to electors suggests that Trump’s “inauguration would present a grave and continual threat to the Constitution, domestic tranquility, and to international stability.”
It urges them not to vote Trump and instead cast their ballot for a person with the temperament, integrity, and commitment to the Constitutional principles necessary for a President.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government award-winning journalist and runs free school for deserving children under his NGO – RMN Foundation.
Photo courtesy: U.S. Defense Department
