China slams US ‘overreaction’ after shooting down suspected spy balloon

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China expressed his “firm discontent” at what he believes to be a “clear overreaction” on the part of USA after the shooting down of the alleged spy balloon and also reserves the right to give the “necessary answers”.

China lashed out at “the insistence of the US side to use force” and classifies it as a “clear overreaction and a serious violation of international practice”, all while reserving the right “to provide other necessary responses”.

So, China criticized the US decision to shoot down the “unmanned civilian aircraft”, the alleged spy Balloon, which was shot down this Saturday afternoon when it was flying over the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, he reiterated that they repeatedly informed the US side that the device was “civilian in nature and came into USA due to force majeure, which was a purely accidental situation,” according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In this sense, the Asian giant stressed that it had clearly asked the United States for “adequate, calm, professionalism and moderation” management regarding the matter and cited the statements of the Department of Defense spokesman, who admitted this Friday that the device it did not pose a military threat.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the device was being used by Chinese authorities to “monitor strategic locations in the continental United States,” according to the report. CNN.

He Pentagon He noted that US President Joe Biden on Wednesday gave authorization to shoot down the balloon “as soon as the mission can be accomplished without undue risk to American lives in the path of the balloon.”

“The Department of Defense has developed several options to bring down the balloon safely over our territorial waters while monitoring its route and its intelligence-gathering activities,” Austin said, the Department of Defense reported. CNN. The head of the Pentagon explained that the operation was carried out in coordination with the Government of Canada.

troops of the Navy and the Coast Guard They secured the perimeter of the area where the balloon was shot down. The operation had planned to recover remains at a great depth, but it is estimated that they are about 47 feet –14 meters–, so “it will be much easier.” “Highly trained Navy divers” have participated in the operation as well as “unmanned ships that can lower and recover the structure, raise it afloat and transfer it to the recovery ship.”

The balloon was sighted for the first time last Tuesday over Montana and crossed the country to the east coast until reaching the Atlantic this Saturday, where it was finally shot down. senior officials of the Pentagon They had warned of the risk of bringing the aircraft down on the ground due to the danger of the debris causing damage.

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