Pentagon has claimed that it has "secured an understanding" with Chinese government for the return of an underwater drone that was seized earlier this week in the disputed South China Sea. However, the rapprochement has coincided with fiery tweets from US President-elect Donald Trump that is further likely to inflame the already tense US-Sino relationship.

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The drone, known as an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), was seized by Chinese navy official on Thursday. The seizure is an unprecedented act in the bilateral relationship, given that such an act has never occurred in recent memory.              

"Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese will return the UUV to the United States," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said during a news briefing.

Chinese authorities have also confirmed that an agreement to return the UUV has been reached but claimed that 'US side's unilateral and open hyping up is inappropriate" for resolution of the maritime dispute.

The drone, according to Pentagon, was lawfully carrying out oceanographic duties in Subic Bay, which falls in the part of South China Sea that is very close to Philippines.         

Trump, who is all set to assume office on Jan. 20, immediately took to his Twitter account after the incident was reported in the US media. The outspoken US president elect openly accused China of indulging in the act of "stealing."

"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act," he said.

However, Trump later retracted from his stance by tweeting that the US does not need the drone back and China can very well keep it with them.        

Trump's latest Twitter salvos came barely hours after outgoing President Barack Obama cautioned the incoming president about his foreign policy visa via Taiwan. He warned that a shift in US foreign policy could have an adverse effect on bilateral relationship with China.       

TagsSouth China Sea, china, Pentagon