China tried to jam a UAV on an intel mission. A defense analyst says an inflight snatch might be next...

via Washington Free Beacon (read about the full story here...what has my attention is the words of the defense analyst).

Rick Fisher, a China military affairs analyst, said China could increase pressure on the United States to halt surveillance flights in Asia by first attacking one of the unmanned aircraft flights.
“Though UAVs like the Global Hawk are rather expensive, they are also regarded as more expendable because they are unmanned,” said Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center.
“But failing to defend these UAVs runs the risk of China viewing them as ‘fair game’ to shoot down whenever they please.”
Beijing also might attempt to capture a Global Hawk by causing one to crash in shallow water, or by attempting to snatch one in flight using a manned aircraft.
The United States should balance its unmanned high-altitude surveillance systems with high-altitude piloted aircraft that are better able to conduct evasive maneuvers and use defensive systems, Fisher said.

Is that even possible?

I really don't know.  I've heard the size of the Global Hawk being described as almost as big as a 737, (its been described as having the wingspan of a 737...apologies to all for a bad memory) so an inflight snatch might be pushing it (although with the Chinese, you shouldn't rule out the improbable) so I'm betting that a carefully timed shootdown to allow them to recover it at their leisure is more likely.

Still.

How would the current administration react to such a provocation?  Would they retaliate?  Or perhaps do nothing at all?

This bears watching.