IT'S NOT AUTONOMOUS. IT STILL HAS A PILOT VIA AVIONICS. IN NEVADA.
man vs unmanned < You brought that up with snark, so finish it. Why would a downed manned spyplane be better in this situation? forced down vs a software or technical method < Both end up as NEARLY IDENTICAL diplomatic nightmares and espionage treasure trove spies in our headquarters vs Chinese Airforce < War by other means diplomats vs USAF pilots???? < Back to step one. Suppose it had been a manned mission downed, and they had our pilots too. That would look...gee whiz...a lot like Islamist extremists holding Americans hostage under a Dem President, in, golly, 1979.
See how different elements can have multiple similarities and differences? WOW!
Are you able to have a discussion on more than a single level, or are you just intentionally stirring the pot without a sarc tag which is a flame war tactic prohibited by the Jimrob Conventions of 2001.