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The US military shot down a Chinese high-altitude balloon suspected of being a spy craft that flew over its airspace, sparking tensions between the two nations. The incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue warnings for several airports in the southeastern US and resulted in a diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Washington.
A Clear Violation of Sovereignty
The US claimed that the aircraft violated its sovereignty, whereas China insisted that the balloon was for meteorological and scientific research that had gone off course. On Saturday, President Joe Biden confirmed the successful interception of the balloon and praised the actions of the US aviators who took it down.
"They successfully took it down, and I want to compliment our aviators who did it," Biden said.
NOW - U.S. military has just shot down the Chinese spy airship over the Atlantic Ocean after letting it fly over the country for days.pic.twitter.com/1roYrb30uE — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 4, 2023
A Solemn Protest by China
China expressed its protest against the US decision to shoot down the high-altitude balloon, claiming it as an obvious overreaction.
In a statement, the country's foreign ministry called for the US to handle the situation in a "calm, professional and restrained manner." China's Defense Ministry also issued a statement, expressing its concern over the US's use of force on its civilian unmanned airship.
The ministry warned that China reserves the right to deal with similar situations and safeguard the legitimate rights of relevant companies. "China had clearly asked the U.S. to handle this properly in a calm, professional and restrained manner," China's foreign ministry said in a statement, reports CNN.
"The U.S. had insisted on using force, obviously overreacting." “The US used force to attack our civilian unmanned airship, which is an obvious overreaction. We express solemn protest against this move by the US side,” China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei said in a statement on Sunday afternoon local time.
“China clearly asked the US to handle it properly in a calm, professional and restrained manner. A spokesman for the US Department of Defense also stated that the balloon will not pose a military or personal threat to ground personnel,” the ministry’s statement continued.
“China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of relevant companies, while reserving the right to make further necessary reaction,” the foreign ministry added. The US's interception of the suspected Chinese spy balloon has raised tensions between the two nations, leading to a diplomatic dispute.
The US justified its actions by claiming that the aircraft committed a clear violation of its sovereignty, while China claimed the balloon was for meteorological and scientific purposes and expressed its protest against the US's use of force.