New Delhi: The United States military shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon that was flying in its skies for the last several days, reported Associated Press (AP). The balloon was shot down off the Carolina coast.
There was no delay in response from China on the shooting down of the balloon which threatened ‘repercussions’. Beijing said that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticised the US for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice,” AP added.
In its statement on Sunday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “China will resolutely uphold the relevant company’s legitimate rights and interests, and at the same time reserving the right to take further actions in response.”
US President Joe Biden issued the order to down the balloon which he wanted to do earlier but the military advised to act when the balloon is over water. According to AP, military officials maintained that bringing the balloon down over land from an altitude of 60,000 feet would pose an undue risk to people on the ground.
Biden confirmed the action and said, “They successfully took it down and I want to compliment our aviators who did it”.
AP reported that the debris landed in 47 feet of water, shallower than officials had expected, and spread out over roughly seven miles. It said that the recovery operation included several ships and would be completed in a short time, not weeks.
The balloon was spotted Thursday over Montana, home to Malmstrom Air Force Base, which has fields of nuclear missile silos.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also cancelled his China visit owing to Beijing’s ‘surveillance balloon’. Blinken was due to depart Washington for Beijing late Friday. However, according to the 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.”
China's Response To Blinken Cancelling His Visit
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.
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."
China On Suspected ‘Spy Balloon’
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."