Never Violated Airspace, US 'Hyped Up' Balloon Incident 'To Smear' China: Beijing
Hitting out at the US, Beijing alleged that the "unintended" entry of a Chinese unmanned airship into US airspace was being "hyped up" by politicians and media to "attack and smear" China.
New Delhi: China on Saturday responded to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceling his visit to Beijing saying that "neither side has ever announced that there would be a visit". The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the "unintended" entry of a Chinese unmanned airship into US airspace was being "hyped up" by politicians and media there to "attack and smear" Beijing.
When asked about the entry of a Chinese unmanned airship into US airspace and US Secretary of State Blinken's decision to postpone his planned trip to China. The ministry said, "Regarding the unintended entry of a Chinese unmanned airship into US airspace due to force majeure, the Chinese side has verified it and communicated it to the US side. It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes. Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course."
"This is entirely an unexpected situation caused by force majeure and the facts are very clear. China always acts in strict accordance with international law and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We have no intention to violate and has never violated the territory or airspace of any sovereign country," the foreign ministry remarked, as per an official statement.
Hitting out at the US, Beijing alleged, "Some politicians and media in the US have hyped it up to attack and smear China. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to that."
Regarding Blinken's China visit amid longstanding tensions between the two countries, the Chinese foreign ministry stated, "Maintaining contact and communication at all levels is an important common understanding reached by the Chinese and US presidents at their meeting in Bali. One of the tasks of the diplomatic teams on both sides is to properly manage bilateral relations, particularly to manage some unexpected situations in a cool-headed and prudent manner."
"In fact, neither side has ever announced that there would be a visit. It is a matter for the US to make its latest announcement, and we respect that," it added.
Blinken was due to depart Washington for Beijing late Friday. However, according to news agency AP, he confirmed telling a senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on a phone call that sending the balloon over the US was “an irresponsible act and that (China’s) decision to take this action on the eve of my visit is detrimental to the substantive discussions that we were prepared to have.”
According to AP, later Friday, the Pentagon acknowledged reports of a second balloon flying over Latin America. The first balloon was spotted earlier over Montana, which is home to one of America’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base, defence officials said.
“Job one is getting it out of our airspace. We continue to believe that having open lines of communication is important. Indeed, this incident only underscores the importance, and that's why we will maintain them. That's why, when conditions permit, I plan to go to China. But the most important thing right now is to see that this surveillance asset gets out of our airspace, and we'll take it from there,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference, reported PTI
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