China has blasted the US decision to shoot down an alleged spy balloon spotted flying over North America, accusing the United States of “clearly overreacting and seriously violating international practice” and threatened repercussions.
\nAccording to international media, “China expresses strong dissatisfaction and protests against the use of force by the United States to attack the unmanned civilian airship,” Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
\nIn its statement, the ministry added that \u201cChina will resolutely uphold the relevant company\u2019s legitimate rights and interests, and at the same time reserving the right to take further actions in response.\u201d
\nThe craft spent several days flying over North America, ratcheting up tensions between Washington and Beijing, before it was brought down just off South Carolina\u2019s coast by a missile shot from an F-22 jet on Saturday, Pentagon officials said.
\nThe downing of the balloon created a spectacle over one of the state\u2019s tourism hubs and drew crowds reacting with a mixture of bewildered gazing, distress and cheering.
\nUS Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called the operation a “deliberate and lawful action” that came in response to China’s “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty”.
\nAmerican officials first said on Thursday that they were tracking a large Chinese “surveillance balloon” in US skies.
\nThat led Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday to scrap a rare trip to Beijing designed to contain rising US-China tensions.
\nAfter initial hesitation, Beijing admitted ownership of the “airship”, but said it was a weather balloon that had been blown off course.
\nChina said it had “clearly requested that the United States properly handle the matter in a calm, professional and restrained manner”.
\nIt emphasised that the balloon\u2019s journey was out of its control and urged the US not to “smear” it based on the balloon.
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