BBC New
By Claire Hills
BBC News, Washington
January 26, 2022
A race against time is under way for the US Navy to reach one of its downed fighter jets – before the Chinese get there first.
The $100m (£74m) F35-C plane came down in the South China Sea after what the Navy describes as a “mishap” during take-off from the USS Carl Vinson.
The jet is the Navy’s newest, and crammed with classified equipment. As it is in international waters, it is technically fair game.
Whoever gets there first, wins.