China.- Beijing protested the downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States, and accused Washington of “reacting clearly disproportionately” and incurring a “serious violation of international practices.”
“China expresses its strong discontent and protests against the use of force by the United States to attack a civilian unmanned aircraft,” the Chinese foreign minister said in a statement, adding that it will reserve “the right to provide further responses. if necessary.”
The plane had been flying over the United States for several days, raising tensions between Washington and Beijing, before it was killed by a missile fired from an F-22 fighter jet on Saturday, Pentagon officials said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called the operation “a deliberate and lawful action” in response to China’s “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
US officials first said Thursday that they were tracking a huge Chinese “surveillance balloon” in the sky over the United States.
The report led Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a rare trip to Beijing intended to contain rising tensions between the two countries.
Beijing on Friday acknowledged ownership of the “aircraft” but said it was a weather balloon that had gone off course.
China’s foreign ministry said Sunday that it “clearly requested the United States to properly handle the situation in a calm, professional and moderate manner.”
Beijing indicated that the United States “insisted on the use of force” and incurred in a “serious violation of international practices.”
“China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the affected companies and reserves the right to take necessary measures,” the minister added in a statement.
