Donald Trump has hit out at the Chinese seizure of a US underwater drone in international waters as an "unpresidented (sic) act".
The US said the drone was collecting scientific data in the disputed South China Sea, and was one of two being recovered by a survey ship, when it was taken by a Chinese warship.
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Mr Trump responded to the move on Twitter on Saturday, misspelling the word "unprecedented" as he conveyed his outrage.
"China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act," he wrote.
Two hours later he tweeted the same response - this time correcting his spelling error - and deleted his initial tweet.
Within a couple of hours of his original tweet, China accused the US of "hyping up" the incident and said it was not conducive to a "smooth" resolution of the dispute.
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China's defence ministry said it had been in touch with the US about returning the drone.
Beijing will remain on alert to US surveillance and take the necessary steps, it added.
The US has demanded Beijing returns the 10ft-long unmanned glider and has issued a formal complaint.
The US oceanographic survey ship, USNS Bowditch, was positioned about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay, near the Philippines.
When the Chinese warship approached and seized the drone on Thursday, the two vessels were 500m apart.
No shots were fired and the Chinese ship left with the drone.
Navy Captain Jeff Davis told reporters: "It is ours. It's clearly marked as ours. We would like it back, and we would like this not to happen again."
It comes amid escalating tensions between China and the US after the President-elect suggested he is willing to abandon the One China policy which guides Washington's position on Taiwan.
Mr Trump caused outrage in Beijing after he took a call from Tsai Ing-wen, the president of democratically self-ruling Taiwan.
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Although the US is Taiwan's main ally and arms supplier, Washington has not had official diplomatic relations with it for almost four decades.
It was the first such contact with Taiwan by a US president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979.
Officials in Beijing have said it is "seriously concerned" about the future and the US view on Taiwan..
However, Mr Trump is showing no signs of backing down to China, which considers Taiwan a rogue province awaiting unification.
He has also criticised Chinese currency policies, its activities in the South China Sea and its stance towards North Korea.
China's seizure of the US drone will add to concerns about its growing military presence in the South China Sea, including its militarisation of maritime outposts.
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