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China Says It Will Return the Underwater Drone It Seized From the US (thehill.com)

An anonymous reader quotes The Hill: China said Saturday it will return the unmanned U.S. drone it seized in the South China Sea, calling the issue "hyped up" by the U.S. "Upon confirming that the device was a U.S. underwater drone, the Chinese side decided to transfer it to the U.S. side in an appropriate manner," said the spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry, Sr. Col. Yang Yujun, according to CNN. "China and the United States have been communicating about this process. It is inappropriate -- and unhelpful for a resolution -- that the U.S. has unilaterally hyped up the issue. We express our regret over that."
A Defense Ministry spokesman added that China opposes U.S. "surveillance and military surveys in waters facing China...and demands the U.S. cease such activities. China will stay alert over relevant U.S. activities and will take necessary measures to counter them."

199 comments

  1. They know by 110010001000 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Trump called Putin and Putin made a few calls.

    1. Re:They know by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 5, Funny

      Also, Chinese officials looked inside and realized "Oh, we pretty much make all of these components. Not much we could learn from this, I guess."

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    2. Re:They know by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      Did the US make any part of it?

      It was probably only assembled in the US and by assembled I mean they stuck a sticker on it that said "Assembled in the USA" on it.

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    3. Re:They know by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 3, Funny

      To meet the requirements some assembly would have to be done in the US so they leave the last wire connection for the US "factory". It gets shipped over to the US, unpacked, the cover taken off, the worker follows the diagram to connect the final wire (which actually doesn't do anything), puts the cover back on, and packs it back up. Voila, assembled in America.

    4. Re: They know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you Putin!!!!

    5. Re:They know by ELCouz · · Score: 1

      This is really sad... should be modded Insightful

    6. Re:They know by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 2

      Also, Chinese officials looked inside and realized "Oh, we pretty much make all of these components. Not much we could learn from this, I guess."

      Returned with a free firmware update!

    7. Re:They know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wouldn't putting on the "Made in U.S.A." sticker count?

    8. Re: They know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Assembled in USA beats "designed in California by Apple" at least. Bunch of deceptive mean nothing marketing buzzword crap.

    9. Re:They know by raind · · Score: 1

      Off topic: https://detroitdenim.com/pages/our-story
      Jeans from the USA

      --
      Get up!
    10. Re:They know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What "wire"? The American worker puts in the final sicker which states that Breaking this sticker will void the warranty

    11. Re:They know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, you guys should really check your facts. It's almost entirely US made, including the electronic innards. It is proudly made in the US.

      Not everything is made in China, and this device is not. It is made on Cape Cod and there are many shops supplying the marine exploration industry centered around Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

    12. Re:They know by Immerman · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure making a "Made in the USA" claim has much higher legal requirements than "Assembled in the USA", and just applying the sticker satisfies neither.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  2. Returned in a box by p51d007 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Happens all the time. In the 70's, a Mig25 landed in Japan, pilot defected with the plane, and "owners manual". Russia was hopping mad and wanted it back, and they did...in a big box ;) I'm sure the US underwater drone, by the time it is returned will have been photographed, scanned, dismantled and every ounce of anything copied. It's how it works.

    1. Re:Returned in a box by chispito · · Score: 1

      I'm sure the US underwater drone, by the time it is returned will have been photographed, scanned, dismantled and every ounce of anything copied. It's how it works.

      As if. Why wouldn't they just use the original blueprints they probably stole several times over by now?

      --
      The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
    2. Re:Returned in a box by smooth+wombat · · Score: 0

      The difference between your story and this one is the pilot handed over the plane because he was defecting. In this case the Chinese went out and took the underwater drone.

      People also forget in Bush's first term, soon after entering office, one of our surveillance planes was hit by a Chinese jet and had to land on Chinese soil. The crew wasn't able to destroy all the equipment or files before leaving the plane so guess what the Chinese did.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    3. Re:Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      As if. Why wouldn't they just use the original blueprints they probably stole several times over by now?

      Stole? They got it through legal means. How else were they supposed to build it in the first place.

    4. Re: Returned in a box by Chewbacon · · Score: 1

      They finished destroying it for them???

      --
      Chewbacon
      The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
    5. Re:Returned in a box by guises · · Score: 1

      It's a research drone - all it does is collect oceanographic data. Yes it's launched from a military ship, but that doesn't mean there's anything to be gained by dismantling it.

      Okay, maybe the Chinese suspected something different. It's possible they thought that this was secretly something special, but we know better now: the fact that we're hearing about this at all means that it was just a mundane instrument.

    6. Re:Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trying to find OIL, just to give corporate interest backed National Policy a reason to escalate tensions with China.

    7. Re:Returned in a box by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      There IS technology there.

      My father was an oceanographer in the 1970's who dropped current meters into the ocean all over the world.

      The Russians would collect them all the time and dissect them.

      There be chips and instruments and all sorts of thingies in them there things, and not all of it is "off the shelf".

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    8. Re:Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, I remember. I was told they used them to make submarine hunting bouys.

    9. Re:Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who cares it was basically a weather drone. Media (and you too apparently) are demonizing China as usual. China is probably assembling all the parts to this already anyway, they already know all this tech. You think this is worth an international incident to them? How egocentric.

    10. Re:Returned in a box by meerling · · Score: 1

      A defector bring a gift, isn't the same as swooping in and grabbing something from it's rightful owners, especially with them right there.

      They probably just downloaded it's data and were annoyed that all it had were current and temp readings, or something equally oceanographic, but not very espionage oriented.

    11. Re:Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are correct. A zero technology overlap exists between the US Navy's research drones and spy drones.

    12. Re:Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      bahahahahahahahahahahaahaha

      scavenging for current meters

      glorious pa-rooskay technology! cheeki-breeki!

    13. Re:Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Happens all the time?

      The Mig25 event never happened before, or since. Even the fact that it happened was a near-miracle. The pilot's planning was extensive, and he had to wait for the right conditions to occur (flying in a wing that couldn't shoot him out of the air, with enough fuel to reach the alternate destination, while not getting shot down by the accepting country).

      Show me a second incident.

      Happens all the time, my foot. In any case, the drone incident is hardly the same as a pilot planning a defection. The drone was cut from it's tether, or plucked out of the water. There was no "free will" of it wanting to go to China.

    14. Re: Returned in a box by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ukraine, pilot drugged his squad and flew fighter jet to turkey. Circa 1985?

  3. Confucious say by Rick+Zeman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "It is inappropriate -- and unhelpful for a resolution -- that the U.S. has unilaterally hyped up the issue. We express our regret over that.""

    They express regret over the US being upset at their actions. Umm, okay.

    1. Re:Confucious say by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1, Insightful

      They are making the US look rash and childish. It's going to be a common theme for the next four years.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      Odd that you keep bringing up Trump when it's Obama and his administration that have been making this situation worse.

    3. Re:Confucious say by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Not just that, all the US reactions so far have been Obama administration reactions. The only foreign policy 'boo-boo' so far was Trump talking to President Tsai and the Chinks getting a hemorrhage over it

    4. Re:Confucious say by ScentCone · · Score: 1

      The only foreign policy 'boo-boo' so far was Trump talking to President Tsai and the Chinks getting a hemorrhage over it

      What makes you think that was a mistake or even a bad thing?

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    5. Re:Confucious say by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      They are making the US look rash and childish. It's going to be a common theme for the next four years.

      Good thing that Obama is still in office huh? Never mind that China pulled the drone in within sight of the operating vessel. China knows it can pull this bullshit with Obama in office, see what happened with Iran and them seizing sailors in international waters and there being zero consequences. And in multiple other cases where other countries have acted as belligerents towards US military vessels with zero consequences over the last 8 years. The incoming president(Trump) is likely not going to take this, neither are those he's putting into cabinet positions. Which is why they're pulling this now, they know they can get away with it.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    6. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump is going to collapse China. Bretton Woods era is over. Watch and learn. ;)

    7. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not a boo-boo. that was calculated. watch and learn.
      Bretton Woods era is over, and China is about to be collapsed. They are in a terrible position demographically speaking, at a time when we are about to pull the rug out from under them, their whole economy is base don american consumerism, when we shut the doors to them, they will collapse, they have no consumer economy of their own, and demographically their one child policy literally set them up for economic destruction. China is F'ed buddy. ... F'ed.

    8. Re:Confucious say by AmiMoJo · · Score: 0

      So what you are saying is that Trump's administration will start WW3 over a fucking drone.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    9. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but they got a higher score than you.

    10. Re:Confucious say by Mashiki · · Score: 0

      So what you are saying is that Trump's administration will start WW3 over a fucking drone.

      There's a long road to travel before you hit war. Unless you're Hillary Clinton, then you simply want to bomb sovereign embassies and attack Russian's in Syria.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    11. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it was awesome personally. We hold all the cards, we should start acting like it.
      China is Fuked geographically, and demographically, if we restrict our consumer market to them they are done.

    12. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      Which situation exactly?

      The maxed out national debt; or
      The hottest month on record; or
      The widening gap between the 1% and the 99%; or
      The spike in police shootings; or
      everything else cynically blamed on president-in-waiting Trump even though Obama (the Hope president) has been in power for the last 8 years?

    13. Re:Confucious say by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      It's going to be a common theme for the next four years.

      Only if it's effective and helps them get what they want......otherwise they'll switch to a different strategy like a rational person.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    14. Re:Confucious say by vux984 · · Score: 2

      Is it a 'bad thing' ? Hard to say. It's certainly... disruptive, but disruptive isn't necessarily bad.

      However what makes it a mistake is that I have absolutely ZERO faith that Trump did it on purpose, or was even dimly aware of the hornets nest he stepped on when he did it.

      In Chess sometimes its a brilliant move to sacrifice your queen; but when its done without even fully aware of what you are doing, by a neophyte who barely knows chess... it still might be a brilliant move... but it probably wasn't, and is more likely to be a disaster.

      Trump doesn't even know the rules of the game yet. Let's not pretend he's a master statesman. He's not even a particularly great businessman.

    15. Re:Confucious say by CaptainDork · · Score: 2

      Really?

      And who owns the United States?

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    16. Re:Confucious say by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Careful what you ask for, you just might get it. The collapse of the second largest economy in the world with 1.5 billion people is not going to happen neatly or quietly. If you think the destruction of Syria was a problem, you ain't seen nothin yet.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    17. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ”We express our regret” is an idiomatic expression for "We are not pleased". The Japanese use this all the time. I didn't know the Chinese did this too.

    18. Re:Confucious say by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      There is plenty of evidence that he hasn't got a clue about this stuff. He described China's actions as "unprecedented", when it's actually happened many times before and is SOP for captured spy vessels.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    19. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      China continues to poke the dragon and dare it to fight. It might be sleepy under Obama, but I wouldn't suggest they continue poking under Trump. Nobody knows what the man might do.

    20. Re: Confucious say by jxander · · Score: 1

      It's the diplomatic equivalent of "I'm sorry you feel that way." Or "sorry, not sorry."

      --
      This signature is false.
    21. Re:Confucious say by onepoint · · Score: 1

      We hit china's embassy at least once https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... that was in 1999.

      not saying we did it, but .... looks like we hit Moscow's too http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ru...

      the moscow hit looks like a tit for tat

      --
      if you see me, smile and say hello.
    22. Re: Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The United States. Was there a point to your question?

    23. Re:Confucious say by fredgiblet · · Score: 1

      We've got an ocean between us. The only friends with a close land connection are South Korea. It might be bloody, but we won't have to be involved.

      Granted we probably will be, we'll probably be throwing people left and right into the fire to solve our own issues, but we won't have to be.

    24. Re:Confucious say by currently_awake · · Score: 1

      The chip fabs in Taiwan make most of our electronics, that get assembled in China. Any war in that region will hurt America directly.

    25. Re:Confucious say by currently_awake · · Score: 1

      American pensioners appear to hold most of the accounts payable. Or did you mean China with around 10%?

    26. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let them get their panties in wad. China has become the special snowflake of the world and they need to grow the fuck up, just like the rest of the special snowflakes.

    27. Re:Confucious say by unixisc · · Score: 1

      The only foreign policy 'boo-boo' so far was Trump talking to President Tsai and the Chinks getting a hemorrhage over it

      What makes you think that was a mistake or even a bad thing?

      It wasn't - hence the sarcasm quotes '' around 'boo-boo'

      Honestly, once Trump is sworn in, if Chaeeena wants to toss him around, he should either announce an end to the recognition of the 'one-China' policy, or recognize Taiwan as the 'one China'. Another option - stick to the one China policy, but recognize Taiwan as a separate and independent country - not as Republic of China, but as Republic of Taiwan

    28. Re:Confucious say by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Not a boo-boo. that was calculated. watch and learn. Bretton Woods era is over, and China is about to be collapsed. They are in a terrible position demographically speaking, at a time when we are about to pull the rug out from under them, their whole economy is base don american consumerism, when we shut the doors to them, they will collapse, they have no consumer economy of their own, and demographically their one child policy literally set them up for economic destruction. China is F'ed buddy. ... F'ed.

      My quotes '' around 'boo-boo' was meant to be sarcastic. I didn't think Trump stepped on it.

      I think the US should respond to the last few years of Chinese misbehavior - be it the South China sea islands, this drone abduction, secretly supporting North Korea, et al by doing a number of things. One would be the 35% tariffs that Trump said he'd put - he should do that to China right away. That should force companies to shift their manufacturing out of China and either to the US, or failing that, at least to friendlier countries, such as Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines (need to figure out whether they're pissed off at Obama or the US at large), Mexico, Colombia and Chile. The other should be an end to the one China policy, and either recognizing Taiwan as a separate country, be it ROC or ROT, or if they wanna do one China, just recognize the government at Taipei, not Beijing. Once China's economy melts down, it'll be fun seeing how the PLA, or whatever they're now called, curb nationwide unrest

    29. Re:Confucious say by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Any negative repercussions in the US would be temporary. Companies that rely on Chinese manufacturing will get the hint that it's an unpredictable place to manufacture, and move manufacturing elsewhere. Be it back to the US - Trump's pet cause - or to friendlier countries like Taiwan, Thailand or even Mexico.

      Destruction of Syria is only a problem for the Twitter followers of that poor 7 year old girl from Aleppo who's gone offline. We need to stop getting our heartstrings tugged. Europe tried opening its doors, and there have been some 2000 rapes as a result from these refugees. This conflict is not even Russia's, and it's been going on since the 8th century b/w different Islamic sects, who are incapable of living and let live. It's not our fault that the people of the region are die hard (in more ways than one) Muslims

    30. Re:Confucious say by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Lot of assembly takes place in other countries as well - Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines. There would be some disruption in production, but the end result would be the assembly houses in those other countries stepping up their capacity. Not a long term issue

    31. Re: Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wish I could be there the day you realize what a rube you've been. I expect you won't open your mouth and remove all doubt of your foolishishness that day...

    32. Re: Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many companies begrudgingly use China for manufacturing because their competition does. Take if away from every one and its even competition again.

      It's fucking annoying getting your product designs stolen and sold out the back door when you're paying them big bucks to not do that shit.
      And they don't give a shit about American patents, so fuck them.

    33. Re: Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd like Trump to sit down and list out the dozen or more things China has done and ask if they can make a list equal or greater of USA fucking them in the ass. If they can't match, then a catch up retaliation is in order to set things right.

    34. Re:Confucious say by meerling · · Score: 1

      I guess they were hoping the US ship would open fire on them for their act of piracy so they could really fire up the crocodile tears. But since that didn't happen, they only get to whine about us calling them for doing something illegal and stupid.

    35. Re:Confucious say by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Why not just default on it? Like Trump did w/ 4 of his companies, he can do it this time as well, and leave Chaeeena holding the baby }:-)

    36. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your news is out of date. Due to RMB value depreciation Japan is, once again, the largest foreign debut holder of the US.

    37. Re:Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're not upset.

      They're disappointed the US is being the whiny bitch here.

      "Yeah sure, you can have your drone back. Just stop flying it into our yard and looking into my sister's window, OKAY?"

    38. Re:Confucious say by apparently · · Score: 1

      The incoming president(Trump) is likely not going to take this, neither are those he's putting into cabinet positions. Which is why they're pulling this now, they know they can get away with it.

      Hey genius, I guess you didn't realize that tough guy Trump's response to this incident was “We should tell China that we don’t want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!”. Yup, you sure do have your finger on the pulse - Trump is totally "not going to take this" at all, you fucking imbecile.

    39. Re: Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't stick to the "one China" policy while recognizing Taiwan as a state because the whole "one China" policy is about NOT recognizing it as a state.

      Are you some kind of moron, or what? I guess you have the President you deserve, at least.

    40. Re: Confucious say by cunina · · Score: 1

      You are probably right.... which means, we're going back to the days when a mid-spec PC cost $3500, and countless American waterways polluted with the effluents from electronics manufacturing.

    41. Re:Confucious say by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      China's baby has a name ... "USA."

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    42. Re: Confucious say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gosh, it sure looks like the other way around from my point of view. The USA does most of the "poking" around the world, not just with China (who tend to stay within or close to their own territories).

  4. Disassembled.... by stoicio · · Score: 3, Funny

    -parts photographed
    -boards xrayed
    -wiring logged
    -systems exported to solidworks for analysis

    We should have it back to you some time in April.

    Signed China

    1. Re:Disassembled.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I could have it done by mid-January and still have time for the Christmas and New Years holidays. I'm sure the Chinese can do it all in 72 hours. Most of the time overhead would be administrative and logistics.

      The hardest part would be finding supplier-CAD of the various COTS components. Reverse engineering the custom manufactured components wouldn't take long.

      Laser scan of the skin(or simply a photograph over graph paper since it uses rotational symmetry).

    2. Re:Disassembled.... by Loki_1929 · · Score: 1

      They'll still only get it 70% right, but it'll cost 10% as much to produce.

      --
      -- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
    3. Re:Disassembled.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      lol, like they didn't build the fucking thing anyways

    4. Re:Disassembled.... by ckatko · · Score: 1

      Who the hell designs a secret drone WITHOUT a self-destruct button?!

    5. Re:Disassembled.... by bugs2squash · · Score: 1

      -new unit tests highlight previous unidentified bugs - fixed now

      -oil changed

      -tires rotated and balanced

      -improved drone returned to the ocean

      --
      Nullius in verba
    6. Re:Disassembled.... by gtall · · Score: 1

      Errr...it wasn't a secret done. The U.S. Navy, get this, does research on ocean currents, salinity, etc. The only thing secret about it is that you didn't know the Navy used them.

    7. Re:Disassembled.... by stoicio · · Score: 0

      Any self destruct would cause an even worse international incident.

      China is just indicating that the new prez-elect is in for a hay-ride if he actually thinks he will be in charge globally.
      Trump's big mouth may play well in the trailer parks of Bullshit Backwater U.S.A., but the rest of the world will cut it's losses and just cut the U.S. loose and let it starve economically rather than work around him.

      The U.S. only represents 4% of the global population. The rest of he planet is moving on with growing, young, middle classes.
      China is just sending a clear message that, no only is the U.S. no longer economically competitive, the country is no longer militarily competitive either.
      This despite the U.S. having the worlds largest expenditure in military.

      China and Russia are needling the U.S. to try to get it's people to understand that they can pull the wings off the U.S. like a fly with no effort.

      Examples are:
      - Russia steps in and ends the Syrian conflict just to piss USA off.
      - Russia runs rings around the U.S. by performing cyberwar on national elections and demonstrates to the world that the U.S. system of democracy is a fraud.
      - Russia continues to launch more space payloads than any other nation.
      - China owns the majority of U.S. debt, hence the U.S. economy.
      - China can, not only easily find but also, pluck U.S. military technology from a very large ocean as a demonstration of technical superiority that should not be ignored.

      I'm not sure what the U.S. public need to make this all more obvious. Maybe if Russia and China turned all the lights across the U.S. on and off twice each night for 30 days.

    8. Re:Disassembled.... by Solandri · · Score: 2

      This isn't some super-sophisticated robot submarine designed to spy on underwater Chinese communications (not that you could - EM signals only penetrate a few mm in seawater anyway). It's an underwater glider. It doesn't even have a motor. It moves by changing its density to alternately sink or rise, using its wings to convert that into forward motion - usually less than 1 knot. The electronics wake up every few seconds, measure the pressure to determine its depth, chirp the sonar to measure the distance to the bottom, sample the salinity and temperature, then go back to sleep. We use them in oceanography all the time for measuring temperature and salinity of the water column, and for mapping underwater terrain. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't identical to gliders NOAA uses.

    9. Re:Disassembled.... by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      The self-destruct needn't be a large explosive charge. There are thermite and thermite-like mixes that will burn fine underwater and they could be located in modest quantities only over the sensitive internal components.

      This might indeed have existed and successfully activated and the Chinese simply neglected to mention it in their press release. Or maybe it was too low-tech for us to bother, or it could be a decoy.

    10. Re:Disassembled.... by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      - China can, not only easily find but also, pluck U.S. military technology from a very large ocean as a demonstration of technical superiority that should not be ignored.

      The "drone", along with another one, was being towed behind a USN research vessel that was being trailed by a Chinese ship. The US ship probably can only bring aboard one at a time, so the Chinese ship lowered a launch and swooped over and grabbed the other drone while ignoring the radio calls from the US ship. As a research vessel it's going to be unarmed so they really couldn't do anything to stop them. It's not like the Chinese were secretly tracking the drone and used a helicopter and some special forces to snag it out of the ocean. It was the oceanic version of a target of opportunity smash and grab.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    11. Re:Disassembled.... by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      China is just sending a clear message that, no only is the U.S. no longer economically competitive, the country is no longer militarily competitive either.

      Uh, all "did they make it"jokes aside, Chinese technology is not superior to American. So, that might be their intended message, but I hope people aren't gullible enough to swallow it, at least not in that hyperbolic form.

      Having a bunch of factories specializing in cranking out cheap stuff is not the same thing as having technological superiority, nor is it the same thing as being economically dominant (although it obviously does give them a worrying amount of leverage and has fueled rapid growth.)

      - Russia steps in and ends the Syrian conflict just to piss USA off.

      That's politics and geopolitics. If you want to argue Russia is more ruthless, reckless and aggressive you'll get little argument from me but obviously if we wanted them out of Syria our F-22s would not break a sweat doing so.

      - Russia runs rings around the U.S. by performing cyberwar on national elections and demonstrates to the world that the U.S. system of democracy is a fraud.

      They hacked some very soft non-governmental targets (you do realize the DNC is not part of the CIA or something?) and released some emails.

      Meanwhile, our computer viruses made uranium centrifuges located in highly secured facilities in Iran blow up. (To be fair, we probably worked with Israel on that one.)

      - China owns the majority of U.S. debt, hence the U.S. economy.

      No, debt is not ownership. This is Finance 101 stuff here. One of the key aspects of debt is that is it not ownership. And their bonds in truth give them very little leverage. The worst they could do is flood the market by selling at a loss. This would hurt them considerably more than it would hurt us, and the fed could somewhat counteract the effects by aggressively buying up the bonds themselves, as well as screwing with the interest rates to force China to lose even more money.

      And that's the *easy* ways we could fight back against Chinese economic warfare via bonds. (I.e. not even touching crazier but plausible possibilities like a selective default.)

      The reason why they buy our bonds? Because ours are the safest long term bet, and possibly because they are wagering on a mutual enrichment given their increased trade with us. (Economics 101: Trade is rarely zero sum; at least in simple examples, there is usually an objective mutual gain.)

      - China can, not only easily find but also, pluck U.S. military technology from a very large ocean as a demonstration of technical superiority that should not be ignored.

      It's a claimed demonstration of technical superiority. You might as well argue that someone capturing a pawn from a grandmaster (while still in the opening) is demonstrating superiority. America has a lot of matériel near China (in large part due to our alliance with Japan and tacit alliance with Taiwan), probably much more than they have off the coast of CA.

      China and Russia are needling the U.S. to try to get it's people to understand that they can pull the wings off the U.S. like a fly with no effort.

      Oh, so you are serious. Tell me, are you a troll, astroturfer or genuinely delusional?

    12. Re:Disassembled.... by stoicio · · Score: 1

      It's obvious propaganda on the part of China.

      A U.S. Navy 'research' vessel near Chinese disputed waters is perceived, globally, as the same thing as 'Russian Fishing Trawlers' off Cape Canaveral.
      It's surprising there were no U.S. security boats nearby to provide an escort. Was that so they could actually get/let China to pick the equipment up?

      " wagering on a mutual enrichment given their increased trade with us".

      There are several economists, in the U.S. that would heartily disagree with you. Also, regarding the perception of U.S. bonds as stable over the long term.
      I actually studied economics well past level 101.

      China can economically drop the U.S. with very little pain at this point. Read Reuters.

    13. Re:Disassembled.... by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      There are several economists, in the U.S. that would heartily disagree with you.

      You seem to be conflating different issues. The proposed mechanism by which you're alleging China could wage economic warfare isn't economics; it's finance. Economics is to finance as voodoo is to medicine. (Partially a symptom of it being such a larger macro view, even "micro"economics.)

      Speculation regarding China's motives is a separate issue.

      China can economically drop the U.S. with very little pain at this point.

      Then put up or shut up. Explain the mechanism by which they could do *something* with the bonds they own to do significantly more damage to us than themselves. Keep in mind the Fed's ability to change interest rates, issue more bonds and buy back an arbitrary number of bonds.

      Also keep in mind the regulatory red tape and safety valves we have to prevent things from happening too quickly. If the markets go apeshit, guess what happens? The people running the markets turn them off for a cool-down period, and once people realize what's going on the mainstream bond markets aren't going to be turned back on except in a careful and controlled manner, with new rules in place. I'm not making this up; you see it happen all the time after stock market crashes. You simply can't blitzkrieg an attack like this.

      Some of the tactics[1] the Fed has at its disposal might even be complementary. Raising the interest rates through the roof is (broadly speaking) a trigger for deflation, but the Fed buying up tons of excess bonds on the market is inflationary (the Fed creates money when it buys bonds, as you may or may not recall as an alleged student of economics/finance.) Yes, it would be volatile as hell and screw with the exchange rate and plunge us into a recession, sure, but China would fare much worse directly, without even examining the indirect effects of their exchange rate and the effects of reduced exports to the USA.

      In the age of fiat money, you can't wage war against a central bank in that manner and expect to win... at least, not when your enemy's economy is much bigger and more developed than yours.

      Read Reuters.

      I don't rely on mainstream journalist to explain anything remotely technical, least of all Finance 101. If that's where you're getting your ideas... well, that would certainly explain it.


      1. I say "tactics", but realize these aren't unusual things. The fed buys bonds (with "fake" money) and sells bonds and in so doing changes the interest rate all the damn time. That's its job. I'm not even touching on the unusual and more extreme weapons at our disposal, like asset freezes or selective defaults. The point is, without "playing dirty" whatsoever, the Fed already has a lot of power to mitigate and retaliate.

    14. Re:Disassembled.... by onepoint · · Score: 1

      I do know a bit about maritime law, if the drone was attached to the US vessel in any physical way, it's a huge violation.
      Maritime laws have been around for a very long time. and stupid act's like that can lead to very physical trade problems,
      maritime people are really different, they have to work together, because simple errors can now cost almost billions of dollars
      worth of insurance claims. Also, how do nations retaliate, simple, Customs not clearing a ship or delay ( very few US flag
      vessels call China, but many call USA ) can have a huge long term business cost to a steamship line.

      --
      if you see me, smile and say hello.
    15. Re:Disassembled.... by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      To be clear, I don't claim to be an expert on the precise effects of how an attempt to flood the market would work, nor all the countermeasures the Fed could or should employ (extreme measures are bound to all sorts of unintended consequences). In particular, my glib comment on "setting" the interest rate high whilst buying back shitloads of bonds is probably a bit off unless there's some extra anti-arbitrage trick they have up their sleeves, or maybe they could do some odd stuff with the yield curve. But my point is that, as a central bank in a fiat-currency economy, the Fed already has a toolbox of enormously powerful weapons.

      The Chinese... can flood the market if they want. That's just about it. To flood or not to flood; that is the question. There is nothing else they can do with that huge stack of bonds they're sitting on (other than collect interest and use it as a safe investment and use it as interest rate hedges, which they're probably happy enough to do.) They can't print more dollars. The Fed can. They can't print more bonds. The Fed can. Given that it's real wealth the Chinese have tied up in those bonds, it's very, very tough to see how their leverage exceeds their own vulnerability.

    16. Re:Disassembled.... by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

      (I'm thinking about this off and on as I'm working on something else.)

      Come to think of it, I guess an intentional bond flood would basically just be an interest rate bomb sucking up capital attracted to the high yields, soooo... crank up the printing presses and spend like mad until the effects wear off? There's only a finite amount of capital that would be tied up by the bonds. It might be as simple as countering that lost capital with tons of stimulus money and then over the next few years figure out some clever ways to keep that money that fled to the high-yield bonds from boomeranging and causing inflation. Discriminate by creation date when it comes to your offer price. Create some new securities if you have to.

      This is an interesting topic but I still haven't thought about this in great detail. For the purposes of this conversation, I don't need to. Recognizing the complexity of the game, and realizing that one side has ALL OF THE TOOLS whilst the other side has only one tool (flood the market or don't flood the market) is enough to convince any reasonable person that a simplistic "OMG China has all teh bonds; they own us; they win!" narrative is laughably wrong.

    17. Re:Disassembled.... by edjs · · Score: 1

      - China owns the majority of U.S. debt, hence the U.S. economy.

      No, the majority (two-thirds) of US debt is owned by the US. And of the third that is foreign-owned, China is only the largest owner (followed closely by Japan), not majority owner.

    18. Re:Disassembled.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was not being towed. A Slocum Glider is an AUV, 'A' being Autonomous. They use a pretty nifty design to propel the device thru the water, including a movable battery pack to shift the center of gravity for and aft.

    19. Re:Disassembled.... by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      in other words it was not a direlect and was under control and/or supervision at the time it was seized by China.

      There is a word for that; piracy.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    20. Re:Disassembled.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Temperature and salinity are vital for knowing how to hide your sub, and to know how sound travels. The drone was surveying potential enemy territory, NOT doing basic sciene.

    21. Re:Disassembled.... by Iamthecheese · · Score: 1

      Russia steps in and ends the Syrian conflict just to piss USA off.

      Not wrong, but not right either. The US fucked up plenty in Syria. Russia just opportunistically threw a wrench into the works. The complexity of that war puts it far beyond your implication that anyone could unilaterally make a decision to end it.

      Russia runs rings around the U.S. by performing cyberwar on national elections and demonstrates to the world that the U.S. system of democracy is a fraud.

      It wasn't cyberwar, it was leaked information. It wasn't Russia. And US democracy isn't as fraudulent as you imply. The primaries dice are loaded but everyone with a brain already knew that.

      Russia continues to launch more space payloads than any other nation.

      What's your point?

      China owns the majority of U.S. debt, hence the U.S. economy.

      Not anymore. But more to the point, owning the most does not mean owning most of, nor does it imply or give ownership or control of the economy. It means the power to cause a recession. Wow.

      China can, not only easily find but also, pluck U.S. military technology from a very large ocean as a demonstration of technical superiority that should not be ignored.

      I regret to inform you that being able to use a crane to pull up a sleeping submersible drone is not a demonstration of technological superiority.

      The only point you have right is that Russia is currently sending up more material than any other government. Your entire argument is impressively wrong.

      --
      If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
  5. Key omission from American media by hackingbear · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you read the Chinese news report, the statement says it "seize the unknown object because it posed safety concern to the passing sea traffic". Of course, it is an excuse. But given we use the excuse of "freedom of navigation" to intrude within the 12 nm of their claimed island, it is a fair game.

    1. Re:Key omission from American media by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If you read the Chinese news report, the statement says it "seize the unknown object because it posed safety concern to the passing sea traffic". Of course, it is an excuse. But given we use the excuse of "freedom of navigation" to intrude within the 12 nm of their claimed island, it is a fair game.

      Difference is that there isn't an island an no one recognizes their claim.

    2. Re:Key omission from American media by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      'Freedom of navigation' is not an excuse, it's a centuries old diplomatic principle.

      It's still all colored by realpolitik. If the Chinese had a first rate navy things would be different. As it is, they are just posing for domestic consumption. It could all be different in 20 more years, but first the Chinese need to survive their economic bubble. I'm pretty confident that members of the Chinese central committee have real numbers in front of them and know they could be hanging from light posts in things go sideways.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    3. Re:Key omission from American media by mrchaotica · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Similarly, the phrase "waters facing China" in the quote in the summary is a lie. This was the open ocean, not "waters facing China."

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    4. Re:Key omission from American media by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      The golden gate straights are 'waters facing China'. 'Facing' doesn't mean anything.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    5. Re:Key omission from American media by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      Difference is that there isn't an island an no one recognizes their claim.

      That's what you have been told, just like you were told Iraq had WMD.

      1) the interpretation "island" comes down to who pays the "judge"; (for example, one of Taiwan's claim -- a very big island, forgot the name -- was ruled non-island since the ruling party earlier this year was KMT who is more pro-China;

      2) The initial claims are not made up by the PRC; they were made up by the ROC (the Taiwanese government) when they still ruled China after WW2 and those claims were agreed to in international treaty signed by US, Russia, UK and nobody has made much a big deal until now. Why now? Because China is becoming the biggest economic competitor of the US. (Back when China was a backward communist country, we betrayed Taiwan and befriended with China, OK'd with their claims and opened our market, just so we could partner with them to fight the Soviet.)

    6. Re:Key omission from American media by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      So is "traffic safety concern" a long time principle, no?

      That's what principles are good for -- excuses.

      Nobody would use morally/politically cause as excuse.

    7. Re:Key omission from American media by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      That's what you have been told, just like you were told Iraq had WMD.

      That's what the courts told China. China is refusing to abide by now multiple decisions that they were part of, willingly a part of no less.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    8. Re:Key omission from American media by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Informative

      There's no alternative interpretation of this bit of maritime.lae. if the original sea mount isn't above water at high tide then it isn't an island and pouring gravel and concrete on it does not make it an island, at least not for the purposes of extending maritime economic zones.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    9. Re:Key omission from American media by Registered+Coward+v2 · · Score: 1

      There's no alternative interpretation of this bit of maritime.lae. if the original sea mount isn't above water at high tide then it isn't an island and pouring gravel and concrete on it does not make it an island, at least not for the purposes of extending maritime economic zones.

      Yes, but that sea law is trumped by this one:

      He can enforce the law gets to decide what it is...

      It's like the Rules of the Road. Sure you had the right of way but gross tonnage wins out over your tiny sailboat every time

      --
      I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
    10. Re:Key omission from American media by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      That's what the courts told China.

      Except that's not a real international court, something you are usually not told by the West media. It is a basically an arbitration panel paid for by Philippine (who now falls to China.) Guess how will such a panel rule. you don't abide to arbitration ruling unless you first agree to; and China never did agree to abide such arbitration.

    11. Re:Key omission from American media by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      And this the US, by continuing to do flyovers and sailbys, demonstrates that the preeminent naval power has no intention of surrendering the South China Sea to China.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    12. Re:Key omission from American media by gtall · · Score: 1

      The isle was called Formosa. I'm unsure why the name was changed. And it isn't because China's becoming an economic competitor to the U.S. that is the issue. The issue is the U.S. has a defense pact with Taiwan and the alleged emperors of mainland China think it makes their dicks look small to have a nation of free Chinese showing China their rinky-dink government is b.s.

    13. Re:Key omission from American media by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      Except that's not a real international court, something you are usually not told by the West media

      Except that China did agree to arbitration. Arbitration is a form of court. They even sent their own people there to act in an official capacity, including having their own people argue the case. China lost in the arbitration and decided to stomp their feet over it, you can bet your ass that if they'd won they'd be throwing it around all the time and saying "look, see how they won." The example case they used is rather piss poor on top of that, on top of that the "explanations" given are mostly wrong because in law the entire substance of an article determines the validity of the article itself.

      Ex: An article/law/statue states that "xyz premise must be involved" but "ignoring xyz premise" because you're the losing party even when you sent official representatives doesn't make that any less valid.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    14. Re:Key omission from American media by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      Except that China did agree to arbitration.

      Citation needed. No, they have never sent any official delegate (see my quora link) and their official spokesman had repeated many times that they were not participating.

      An arbitration panel is a form of judgement forum, not a court. A court is something you have to follow but arbitration is not unless you agreed to beforehand; that's why you signed contracts agreeing to arbitration but never a contract agreeing to court ruling.

    15. Re:Key omission from American media by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      [editing error in previous comment; here it is again]

      Except that China did agree to arbitration.

      Citation needed. No, they have never sent any official delegate (see my quora link) and their official spokesman had repeated many times that they were not participating.

      An arbitration panel is a form of judgement forum, not a court. A court is something you have to follow but arbitration is not unless you agreed to beforehand; that's why you signed contracts agreeing to arbitration but never a contract agreeing to court ruling.

    16. Re:Key omission from American media by stoicio · · Score: 1

      'Facing' is a poor translation of the semantics of the English word 'Surrounding'.

      The word 'Surrounding' can also mean a group of outside assailants pointing spears 'Facing' inward toward a trapped enemy.

      It's just poor semantic translation.

    17. Re:Key omission from American media by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They didn't claim an island. They built one in international waters.

    18. Re: Key omission from American media by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The isle was called Formosa. I'm unsure why the name was changed.

      That name comes from Ilha Formosa. That's Portuguese. For beautiful isle.

      Most likely, they wanted a more or less "authentic" name.

    19. Re:Key omission from American media by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      Another omission pointed out in this Hongkong news pager, translation: the location, while international water, are within the "economic zone" of China; the international law said the owning country has the right to manage commercial activities but does not really say if military survey is allowed. So US takes use of this loophole while China can claim they don't know if it is commercial or military until it retrieved and examined the object.

      After all, this is just extension of the SCS game of words in order to fool each country's (American and Chinese) citizens to support their respective government and spend more money on the military industry complex.

    20. Re:Key omission from American media by meerling · · Score: 1

      Actually china is trying to claim waters far in excess of their legal rights by international law. In fact, their claims infringe upon the claims and recognized rights of at least 3 other countries. China is going an aquatic land grab, and is either going to get away with it, or start a nasty war. At this rate, I'm betting that they want a war.

    21. Re:Key omission from American media by meerling · · Score: 1

      They have recently claimed several other uninhabited islands that were previously claimed by other countries, or were considered unclaimable by international laws. Building an island out there on a reef isn't recognized as a viable claim any more than putting an oil rig out there would be a viable claim. (ianal)

      So yes, china is on an expansion grab and is trying to annex the ocean, including unclaimable international waters and the waters of other nations.

    22. Re:Key omission from American media by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Another omission pointed out in this Hongkong news pager, translation: the location, while international water, are within the "economic zone" of China

      That's a lie. China has no legitimate claim there.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    23. Re:Key omission from American media by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They have more of a right to be there than the US meddling world wide for their own interests. History has proven time and time again that American's can't be trusted, so why should anyone listen or care. In my opinion they should have destroyed it. They've been more than kind to give back the US their Spy drone, yet the US government complains and whines as though they have the moral superiority after being caught with their pants down.

    24. Re:Key omission from American media by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      They translated from English to Cantonese then back?

      No nation owns the oceans 'surrounding' them either. Not past the traditional 'range of a cannon' for outright ownership.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    25. Re:Key omission from American media by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      No. The oceans are big. 'Traffic safety' has been previously used to justify piracy. But piracy it remains.

      The solution is to put larger than needed self destruct charges on these ROVs. Then the Chinese won't do it a second time.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  6. Right.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because the thief gets to decide how the victim should feel. Poor picked on China.

  7. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by stoicio · · Score: 1

    Yes, Trump has stated on Twitter that this is an 'unpresidented' act.
    I, for one, am certain Trump will do all in his power to fully retard this situation backward as humanely plausible.

  8. China says "what are you going to do, nuke us?" by mveloso · · Score: 3, Funny

    So we stole a drone and you freak out. I mean, we already stole islands and you did nothing. Why would you care about a drone?

    1. Re:China says "what are you going to do, nuke us?" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So we stole a drone and you freak out. I mean, we already stole islands and you did nothing. Why would you care about a drone?

      Because it might upset other drones. So if a Chinese nuclear sub goes missing, they should not come crying to USA since the drone collecting telemetry was missing. Just blame the Russians. For all we know, and it wouldn't come to anyones surprise, they did it ;)

  9. US+Russia=Super Win by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You read it here first

  10. They'll just take it apart by stoicio · · Score: 1

    C.A.T. and M.R.I work well for non-metals, even some metals.
    China has all the same (or better) tools the West have.
    Even the same brands in some cases.
    Even tools and supplies under careful export restrictions.

    Your estimate of 72 hours is a bit fast.
    It takes hours to carefully uTome chips using TeraHz - CAT.
    This is because boards tend to be odd shapes.

    1. Re:They'll just take it apart by kuzb · · Score: 1

      You're right. It probably took 74 hours.

      --
      BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
  11. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by ScentCone · · Score: 1

    I see the fake news really works on you. Fell for an altered screen shot memegurgitation because it fits your narrative. No wonder you're so snarky, if that's how well you gather and process information. China's utter lack of concern in grabbing our equipment in the open ocean and giving us and everyone else with an interest in them not taking over the Pacific is 100% on Obama. He'd act more quickly, but he's probably still being weighed down by that Nobel Peace Prize.

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  12. If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by Xenographic · · Score: 0

    I'm amazed, and yet somehow not surprised, that you can find a way to blame Trump for Obama's response to this in a way so divorced from the reality of what just happened.

    Your unprincipled essentialism is a defining characteristic of your posts and I honestly wonder if you even know what that is without clicking the link.

    1. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by AmiMoJo · · Score: 0

      Trump isn't all bad. If he follows through on reducing the size of the US military and military spending I'll welcome it.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by rholtzjr · · Score: 1
      And what gave you the idea that he will reduce the military spending?

      That is not going to happen, if any he will increase the military that Obama has tried to gut.

    3. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      He did say he wanted to reduce military spending, especially things he considers to be wasteful. In fact just recently he knocked $3.5bn off the value of Lockheed Martin with a single tweet about how their F35 is too expensive, not to mention suggesting Air Force One should be cancelled.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by rholtzjr · · Score: 1
      Citations please! The information I am getting is totally opposite of what you stating?

      President Trump Is Likely To Boost U.S. Military Spending By $500 Billion To $1 Trillion

      Trump's military will have more troops and more firepower — if he can find more money

      Does he want to cut WASTEFUL spending like the Navy weapon that by supplying the projectile will cost more than the gun, or an aircraft that is considered by some as inferior such as the F-35? that a retrofit for an existing aircraft would do. Yes, then he does want to cut WASTEFUL spending.

    5. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      Donald Trump promises to ‘bomb the hell out of ISIS’ in new radio ad.

      That takes more ____ (hint: bombs)
        That takes more ____ (hint: soldiers)
        That takes more ____ (hint: airplanes)
        That takes more ____ (hint: intel)
        That takes more ____ (hint: money)

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    6. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by Man+On+Pink+Corner · · Score: 2

      Citations please!

      What would be the point? You might as well "cite" the sage quotations of the guy in the alley down the street whose hobby is inhaling gasoline fumes.

    7. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by fredgiblet · · Score: 1

      He's going to increase the size of the military. He wants more ships than the navy wants and wants to increase the size of the Air Force and Army too. Granted he's talked about cutting waste, which would be great, but he's probably not going to end up cutting funding.

    8. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by currently_awake · · Score: 1

      Obama has done nothing to limit military spending. The Republicans refusing to pass his budget is the only real limiting factor. Once Trump starts a war with China you can expect military spending to triple.

    9. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by rholtzjr · · Score: 1

      So in other words, the statement of Trump wanting to cut military spending is nothing but BS. I agree.

    10. Re:If you saw that, you were looking in a mirror by Man+On+Pink+Corner · · Score: 1

      No, the point is, if you don't like something Trump says, just wait a few days and he'll say something completely different.

      The same advice applies if you do like something he says.

      He's a Theoden in search of a Wormtongue.

  13. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What altered screen shot are you talking about?

  14. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 1

    Not sure about that actually being "fake news".

    The Guardian is reporting it.

    Fox News is reporting it

    As are numerous other news outlets, both respectable and not so respectable.

    Perhaps you've just assumed it was "fake" or perhaps you're helping to disseminate your own version of "fake news".

    Hey, it's not so bad that he messed it up. He can blame auto-correct (although unpresidented is not a word any auto-correct should recognize).

    The bigger issue is that he's involving himself in international affords before assuming office.

  15. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by coteriescavenger · · Score: 1

    You say it's probably not fake news, and then point to two other corporate media outlets that are reporting it.

  16. Production is ramping up. by trailerparkcassanova · · Score: 2

    Early next month you'll be able to pick one up on Aliexpress.

  17. Walled Garden of Ideas by coteriescavenger · · Score: 1

    Wow, look at all these controversial comments senselessly modded down into silence. If you ever wonder why you didn't see Trump's victory coming, or why you didn't find out about X government scandal sooner, or why anything else doesn't seem to be going the way you'd expect, it's because you live in a walled garden of ideas, and you haven't been exposed to the marketplace of ideas that is the neutral internet.

    Universities are no longer the baron's of free speech they were 30 years ago [1]. Slashdot's self-modding system requires you to have "the right politics" before you're allowed to decide who else has "the right politics". Corporate media... well that one's obvious.

    If you want to know what's going on, you must get thee to a free speech zone and expose yourself to unfiltered opposing ideas.

    1. Re: Walled Garden of Ideas by coteriescavenger · · Score: 1

      Almost forgot the reference: 1. College Indoctrination Documentary, https://youtube.com/watch?v=ka...

      Bonus reference: 2. Milo Yiannopoulos, https://youtube.com/watch?v=9s...

  18. Hyped Up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've been speaking with many many people and they all, to be frank they're not happy, but they all say that this is totally unacceptable.China, their numbers are way down, economic disaster. Amazing. But, China's being very disrespectful with this, I can't believe it myself. They stepped way over the line on this. I've got some of the best people telling me that we have to take action. I mean serious action, you'd be totally amazed at how huge the action we're gonna take on this. Believe me.

    China's gonna be sorry. This isn't something our nation will put up with. It's incredible.

    #nukem

    1. Re:Hyped Up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump? Is Twitter down?

    2. Re: Hyped Up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mod parent up! There could be advantages to having an unpredictable leader. Probably not but we'll soon find out.

  19. Chinese bet did not turn out well? by vyvepe · · Score: 1

    Well they though that it is a spy drone to track Chinese submarines in the area. Therefore they took it and looked inside. They did not find the drone advanced enough for a detailed study or there was not enough evidence in the drone to support claim that it is designed to spy submarines. Blunder. The drone really can be claimed to be a research device and it is not very advanced. So they return it and try to cover their mistake by complaining that US went public about their stealing.

  20. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by stoicio · · Score: 1

    There were no images. Trump actually tweeted that from his account.
    No one needs to make this shit up.
    He does it to himself.

    Here's a thought. The ocean is very big. How is it that the U.S. Military drone was so close to Chinese operations?

    Please help me with this because I obviously don't process information very well.
    I don't have cable and tend to only read things like actual historic briefs that are validated by multiple observations so I don't have much time to catch your high quality Fox News for it's unbiased global analysis.

  21. China plans to build "islands" 12 nm apart by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    China plans to build "islands" 12 nm apart across the pacific ocean and claim SF as "Chinese land".

    Then they could claim any ship going north or south of that line is infringing on their homeland.

    Don't fall for it. Manmade islands don't count for a reason.

  22. Simple by argStyopa · · Score: 1

    Subsequent drones should just have their anti-tampering system wired to a bunch of claymores.

    I don't for a moment believe that this was as innocuous as the US purports, but then China's actions in the S China Sea are bullshittery of the highest order and need to be directly countered. The US should build an island there, too, PRECISELY like China is.

    --
    -Styopa
    1. Re:Simple by meerling · · Score: 1

      Start the anchor points with oil rigs refitted to be battlestations?
      Great for hollywood, but not all that realistic in the real world.
      Hmmm... I should put that in one of my games... heheheh

  23. China should monitor Washington DC coastline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The US government acts blatantly as if it owns the world. While the US has a right to utilize these international waters for trade going in and conducting military exercises is not the answer to maintaining goods relationships. China would be justified in coming in and blatantly (rather than discretely) doing the same thing along US shores. Look at what happened when the Soviet Union installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. It didn't really make any difference, but it was retaliation for the US doing the same thing over in Europe near the Soviets. We have no good excuse for this.

    1. Re:China should monitor Washington DC coastline by meerling · · Score: 1

      News flash, china has been doing that since at least the 70s.
      International waters are international waters for a lot of reasons, and any member of the world can insist that international waters remain international waters and piracy (theft at sea of ships or equipment) be stopped.
      China doesn't care that those are recognized international waters and is trying to take them over and make them chinas personal swimming pool, screwing over everyone there, including the other countries who's waters they are trying to steal.

  24. Jesus H. Christ ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 0

    ... the goddam drone had a body cam on it and now we've got photos of the bastards (or bitches, as may apply) who picked it up and face recognition tells us who, in the Chinese government, picks up drones from the ocean.

    Next up: NSA does identity theft of Chinese military individuals who pick up drones in a black op.

    --
    It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  25. US should stay out of South China Sea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can only imagine how America would react if the Chinese began to surround America with military bases, and launched similar provocations. This behaviour from the United States is a threat to world peace.

    1. Re:US should stay out of South China Sea by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      Why doesn't China stay out of the South Sea?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    2. Re:US should stay out of South China Sea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why doesn't the US of A stay out of the South China Sea?

    3. Re:US should stay out of South China Sea by meerling · · Score: 1

      So since when has the US been surrounding china with military bases and stolen chinese property?
      No, seriously, list them.

      So the US insisting upon the return of their stolen unmanned vehicle for measuring oceanic conditions that was stolen in an act of piracy from international waters is a threat to world peace? How so? Please explain.

      Also, please note that it can be argued that international laws would have allowed them to fire on the pirates for their acts of piracy. (ianal)
      Is that what you think would be an appropriate response that wouldn't threaten world peace? Shooting instead of talking? If so, please explain how someone from Bizzarro World ended up on this planet. (For further references on Bizzarro World, please see Superman & DC comics.)

    4. Re:US should stay out of South China Sea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why doesn't China stay out of the South Sea?

      To ask the question is to demonstrate ignorance of geopolitics and game as old as empire.

    5. Re:US should stay out of South China Sea by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      The "geopolitics" is that international waters are free to sail for everyone.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    6. Re:US should stay out of South China Sea by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      I was responding to the laughably absurd comment subject, if you haven't noticed.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  26. Re: China says "what are you going to do, nuke us? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Because the islands didn't belong to us, duh. Try to claim Hawaii and build an air strip on it, I think you'll find us similarly upset.

  27. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    Because, if you managed to read any of TFA on the subject, the Chinese CG ship was shadowing the US vessel in international waters. When the drone surfaced, the Chinese rushed to grab it. It wasn't accidental. They didn't just go 'look at that'! It was a premeditated effort.

    They did it to puff out their claim that the region is Chinese territorial waters. Now they will back down, hand the thing back and smirk a bit. Probably thought it was the last chance to do something like this before Trump takes office and tweets the beginning of WW3 over some similar trivial incident.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  28. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Here's a thought. The ocean is very big. How is it that the U.S. Military drone was so close to Chinese operations?

    The UUV was in international waters near the Philippines, when China seized it.

    Here is an analogy: Your kids bike is on the sidewalk in front of a neighbor's house down the block (lets call this neighbor the Philippines). Another neighbor (lets call this neighbor China), who lives across the street from the house your kid is riding the bike in front of, comes over and takes the bike. The bike was on the sidewalk (in international waters), but near the property of the first neighbor (the Philippines). It was across the street from the property of the neighbor (China) who seized it. How do you respond?

  29. Which countries make phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This article tells where different phones are made. I don't buy anything that was made in China, unless I have to.

  30. Europa by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 1

    I immediately thought of ARTEMIS, the current autonomous robotic exploration crafty working under the ice shelves in Antarctica. However, I'm sure this drone is far more primitive than whatever finally gets sent off-world.

    1. Re:Europa by meerling · · Score: 1

      Actually you're pretty off topic there, but our space probes tend to be build with OLD technology because it's had massive amounts of testing over time in extremely hostile conditions. Not something the new tech has the advantage of. When dealing with sending stuff out there where it will never have a service call, you want the best chance of not having component failures. I believe I saw an article where NASA said that they tend to build those things with 20+ year old electronics, despite them really wanting the power of modern stuff.

  31. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by stoicio · · Score: 1

    Yep.
    Purely propaganda.
    It was a response to Trump's prior bloviation.

  32. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 1

    Could they be wrong?

    Could they both have made it up? Could they have been fooled by some photoshopper?

    Yes, but usually it doesn't get reported so widely and quickly. My first instinct was not to assume it was "fake news". It was, "Did he really tweet that?" and I tried to find other sources.

    Should I wait for Breitbart to confirm it?

    I understand being skeptical but "fake news" will apparently be a constant refrain to deflect anything negative throughout his Presidency.

  33. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by fredgiblet · · Score: 1

    It was far closer to the Philippines than China. China CLAIMS the water it's in, but no one recognizes the claim except for them and maybe North Korea.

  34. ha ha ha by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That "unpresidented" was a fabulous dig at Obama!

    Re-read it.

    Some people are so fixated on seeing Trump as a buffoon, that they cannot see just how thoroughly they and their political heroes were and ARE being trolled by Trump - the guy is a genius.

    Your team is in political trouble as long as it keeps imagining that Trump and his supporters are stupid/racist/etc - it keeps you blind to how and why he is so effective, and why and how his supporters never get outraged by all the things you think will cause them to abandon him.

    Oh, and technically, what China did (seizure of a US naval vessel in international waters (international law makes no distinction about its manned/unmanned status)) is an act of piracy and by definition an act of war, particularly after they were warned away from it (they cannot pretend to not know it was a US Navy vessel, or pretend they thought they were rescuing it) They clearly thought (apparently correctly) that they could safely do it after both Bush43 and Obama tolerated such actions by multiple countries over the past 16 years. They should tread VERY carefully in such situations after Jan 20th and imagine the US will in the future tolerate it no more than THEY would tolerate the reverse...

  35. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by currently_awake · · Score: 1

    The ocean may be huge, but so is the part of it that China claims. Most countries only claim a 200 mile limit.

  36. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by walterbyrd · · Score: 0

    WTF!? Last I checked Obozo was still president. Trump is just a private citizen.

    Want to try again?

  37. Re:Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump is a master at fooling the dim-witted, the lazy, and the racist.

    You are quite opinionated yourself making such generalizations about the people supporting President-Elect Donald J. Trump. Would you prefer Hillary Clinton, a presidential candidate who holds low opinions of the electorate and who among other things actively engaged in political sabotage?

  38. "It should be arriving shortly at your base" by Z80a · · Score: 1

    "Don't mind all its identical manufactured in china friends.."

  39. Childish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haha. For once, China is being the adult and the US is a childish crybaby. Looking forward to more US shit.

    1. Re:Childish by meerling · · Score: 1

      So how is china being adult? This is the equivalent of seeing someone else playing with a toy in the park across the street from your house. Following them around for a while, then as they go to pick up their toys, you run up and steal one of them and run home. And now when the kid you stole it from yells about that jerk that stole his toy, you agree to return it because they're making such a fuss about it, while completely ignore that you STOLE it from them.

  40. Copies available on Alibaba by RogueWarrior65 · · Score: 1

    Or made-in-china.com for 1/3 the price of the US version.

  41. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by coteriescavenger · · Score: 1

    They could totally get it wrong, or even just shine it in an objectively wrong light that shapes your opinion. I don't know if it is wrong in this case, but I don't trust corporate media on either side to report accurately anymore.

    MSM isn't in trouble because they report negatively against Trump. That's to be expected. They've lost every shred of credibility because of how they so flagrantly censored stories prior to the election. Internet users were forced to rally and flood them with requests to report on things they should have already reported, and then they just reported it real low-key.

    They also don't follow basic journalistic standards anymore. They've received extreme criticism from various journalists and publishers, but they don't seem to care because they have a monopoly on the news, the narrative, the opinion of the masses, and they get to decide who's credible and who's not.

  42. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see the fake news really works on you. Fell for an altered screen shot memegurgitation because it fits your narrative. No wonder you're so snarky, if that's how well you gather and process information.

    How much does it burn your little butt that it is actually the genuine tweet by Trump, one that had to be deleted and corrected?

    If you could handle it being an error, that would be one thing. Being forced to scream it was a fake? In that case, hundreds, even thousands are in on it, either that, or somebody stole his phone in the middle of the night.

    I swear, pissants like you will find him repealing the Second Amendment and defending it as not being important to you anyway.

  43. We would do exactly the same thing by Tony+Isaac · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If we found a Chinese drone within a few hundred miles of Los Angeles, you KNOW we would pick it up and turn it into an incident. What they are doing is no different. It's a risk we take deploying drones near other countries.

    1. Re:We would do exactly the same thing by meerling · · Score: 1

      No, they don't. (That's not a hypothetical situation in the slightest, and a lot closer than a few hundred miles.)
      As a matter of fact, they just track them, unless it's apparently disabled/floating and in US waters - aka 12 mile limit.
      Fisherman pick up far more spy buoys than everyone else combined. Those used to be mostly Soviet, but I don't know what they're finding these days.

  44. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My dad needs to go over and punch China's dad in the face.

  45. those damned facts by Texmaize · · Score: 1

    I know in the echo chamber of slashdot the canard about no wmd is taken as gospel, but it really is not true. We know Iraq had them, so did the rest of the world since most of the major countries sold them: US, China, Germany, France, UK, and Russia. This was known at the time and why the war was not stopped. The only real criticism was if it was SMART to go to war over it and destabilize the region, not if they had them.

    Now, I know urban legends die hard, and that it is fun to Bush bash, so you may not want to believe the history. So, just in case you need more. Here is a link to an article from a major news source that describes how they found the wmd. See, its not generally known because it was released with minimal fanfare, because ..... well do the math.

    http://www.usnews.com/opinion/...

    --
    "Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
  46. No America would not do the same thing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This comment sounds like it is very well written Chinese propaganda - an attempt to justify stealing something in international waters. Of course we can only speculate as to what the USA would do if China were off the Californian coast until they are doing "freedom of navigation" exercises that close.

    The drone in question was nowhere China, rather the country to which it was the closest was the Philippines.

    The drone will likely be returned to the USA in similar condition to the EP-3 back in 2001: minus anything "special".
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainan_Island_incident

  47. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes I would generalised you to be in the "stupid" category too :)

    Totally my right to do so.

    Now get off my territorial claim!

  48. Murica! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck Yeah!

    1. Re: Murica! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Coming on to save the mother fucking day yeah!!!

    2. Re: Murica! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cuz Freedom is the only way, yeah!

  49. Why - is it out of warranty already? by the+saltydog · · Score: 1

    Should have bought that SquareTrade service plan for it right away... thanks, Obama.

  50. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well I think "unpresidented" was probably correct. Trump is still only the incumbent, after all. We should all suspend judgement until he's officially been "presidented".

  51. Re: Can Trump con his way around China? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a stupid comment.