The Chinese government has responded to the news that the U.S. military had shot down the Chinese spy balloon that had been traversing the United States for a week, threatening to “respond further” to the United States’ use of “armed force.”
“For the United States to insist on using armed force is clearly an excessive reaction that seriously violates international convention,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement obtained by the New York Times. “China will resolutely defend the legitimate rights and interests of the enterprise involved, and retains the right to respond further.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also claimed in a statement that the airship was for “civilian use,” despite the U.S. Defense Department confirming the balloon was a spy balloon.
“China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and protest against the US’s use of force to attack civilian unmanned aircraft,” the statement claimed. “The Chinese side has repeatedly informed the US side after verification that the airship is for civilian use and entered the US due to force majeure – it was completely an accident.”
“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 statement continued. “China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of relevant companies, while reserving the right to make further necessary reaction.”
On Saturday, the Chinese spy balloon was shot down by the U.S. military a week after it was first detected and after it had already traveled thousands of miles across the country.
“U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command successfully brought down the high altitude surveillance balloon launched by and belonging to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the water off the coast of South Carolina in U.S. airspace,” Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement. “The balloon, which was being used by the PRC in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States, was brought down above U.S. territorial waters.”
