China’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the United States strike on its high-altitude balloon, which it insists was a civilian aircraft used for meteorological purposes that merely veered off course and happened to fly over sensitive military installations.
“China strongly disapproves of and protests against the U.S. attack on a civilian unmanned airship by force,” the Foreign Ministry said Saturday. “The Chinese side has, after verification, repeatedly informed the U.S. side of the civilian nature of the airship and conveyed that its entry into the U.S. due to force majeure was totally unexpected.”
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The balloon is believed to have flown through U.S. and Canadian airspace for roughly eight days, starting on Jan. 28. Pentagon officials first disclosed the situation to the public last Thursday following local media reports of the balloon’s sighting. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his planned trip to China following the revelations.
China quickly apologized to the U.S. after the revelation was made public — a rare showing of remorse from Beijing. But Pentagon officials cast doubt on Beijing’s insistence that the high-altitude flying device wasn’t being used for surveillance purposes. Once the balloon, which was reportedly carrying a payload the size of multiple buses, flew past the continental U.S. over the ocean, it was shot down.
“The Chinese side has clearly asked the U.S. side to properly handle the matter in a calm, professional, and restrained manner,” the Foreign Ministry continued. “The spokesperson of the U.S. Department of Defense also noted that the balloon does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”
Republicans have slammed the Biden administration for being too soft on China and slow to shoot down the balloon, which comes before President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address in front of a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Military personnel explained that they waited for the device to move over water to avoid creating a debris field that could harm civilians.
They are expected to hunt for remnants of the device for inspection.
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China also issued a veiled warning that it may consider “further responses” to the situation if it deemed it necessary.
“Under such circumstances, the U.S. use of force is a clear overreaction and a serious violation of international practice,” the Foreign Ministry added. “China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the company concerned, and reserves the right to make further responses if necessary.”
