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Alice Yan

Just days after China seized a US underwater drone in the South China Sea, Chinese researchers have used the country’s first ­national conference on the technology to underscore the “urgent need” to coordinate development in the area.
The gathering of more than 100 specialists, organised by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Shenyang Institute of Automation, is not directly related to the seizure.
The US drone was seized on Thursday just as the USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic survey ship, was about to retrieve it in international waters off the ­Philippines.
The foreign ministry said ­on Monday that the Chinese and US militaries were having “unimpeded” talks about the return of the drone.
China seizes US underwater drone in South China Sea
Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she believed the drone issue would be “handled appropriately”.
The defence ministry had earlier accused Washington of “hyping up” the issue.
The US had lodged a protest and demanded the return of the drone, which it said was “unlawfully” taken and was an unclassified ocean glider used to gather data on salinity.
Beijing insisted the seizure was legitimate, and said the drone might interfere with navigation and the safety of ­personnel.
At the conference in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on Saturday, the attendees from the State Oceanic ­Administration and other 31 ­institutions said China should set up a nationwide underwater drone research ­organisation to share technology, resources, data and experience in the area.
There was an “urgent need” for domestic research institutions, manufacturers and clients to improve their cooperation to ensure the development of underwater drone research was coordinated, according to a statement on the Shenyang institute’s website.
Chinese demands ‘to come with handover of seized US drone’
“Underwater drones are one of the most promising hi-tech areas in marine observation,” institute director Yu Haibin was quoted as saying.
“They can be widely used in marine science, the marine environment and marine security.”
Hu Dunxin, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the nation’s use of underwater drone technology was advanced and the authorities should develop the industry further so that it could be put to even greater use.
The Shenyang Institute of Automation, one of the leaders in underwater drone research in China, had developed a series of unmanned models that could operate at depths of between 300 metres and 7,000 metres, the statement said.


China holds ‘first ever’ underwater drone symposium two days after it seizes US device

An underwater drone similar to the one seized in waters off the coast of the Philippines. Photo: US Navy.

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China

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More than 100 top experts at event, held by leading research organisation, say ‘urgent need’ for nation to coordinate all its research into use of technology


China holds ‘first ever’ underwater drone symposium two days after it seizes US device

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}More than 100 top experts at event, held by leading research organisation, say ‘urgent need’ for nation to coordinate all its research into use of technology

More than 100 top experts at event, held by leading research organisation, say ‘urgent need’ for nation to coordinate all its research into use of technology