China says don't read too much into U.S. drone case

FILE PHOTO Crew members aboard the VOS Raasay recover U.S. and British Royal Navy ocean gliders taking part in the Unmanned Warrior exercise off the northwest coast of Scotland on October 8, 2016. Courtesy Santiago Carrizosa/U.S. Navy/Handout/File Photo via REUTERS

BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Thursday people should not read too much into last week's incident when a Chinese naval vessel picked up a U.S. underwater drone in the disputed South China Sea.

The taking of the unmanned underwater vehicle in international waters near the Philippines triggered a U.S. diplomatic protest and speculation about whether it would strengthen U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's hand as he seeks a tougher line with China or whether China was testing him.