"China requested the United States to deal with this matter "
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| NDTV - Photo |
China has expressed its displeasure over the shooting down of the alleged spy balloon, saying that the US has violated international procedures by reacting strongly.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on Sunday that "China has expressed its strong disbelief and protested against the use of force by the United States against an unmanned civilian aircraft."
It should be noted that on Saturday, the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon near the coast of the state of Carolina.
The statement issued by China added that it reserves the right to respond as necessary.
"China requested the United States to deal with this matter in a calm and professional manner, but the United States insisted on the use of force and violated international procedures by reacting strongly."
The statement added that China will defend its legitimate rights and interests of its institutions and reserves the right to make a necessary response.
According to American media, the suspected spy balloon was flying at an altitude of about 60,000 feet and was the size of three school buses.
On Saturday morning, the balloon was spotted over the Carolinas from where it entered the Atlantic Ocean.
When US President Joe Biden was briefed on the matter on Tuesday, he intended to drop it on land, but the Pentagon said otherwise.
The Pentagon argued that the move could potentially harm the population.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken canceled his visit to Beijing this week after the suspicious balloon came to light in an effort to ease tensions between the US and China.
However, the Chinese government has expressed a slightly different position regarding the cancellation of the visit on Saturday.
"In fact, China and the US have not announced any such visit," China's foreign ministry said in a statement. Any such announcement by the US is a unilateral move and we respect it.
It should be noted that on Saturday, the United States shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon near the coast of the state of Carolina.
The statement issued by China added that it reserves the right to respond as necessary.
"China requested the United States to deal with this matter in a calm and professional manner, but the United States insisted on the use of force and violated international procedures by reacting strongly."
The statement added that China will defend its legitimate rights and interests of its institutions and reserves the right to make a necessary response.
According to American media, the suspected spy balloon was flying at an altitude of about 60,000 feet and was the size of three school buses.
On Saturday morning, the balloon was spotted over the Carolinas from where it entered the Atlantic Ocean.
When US President Joe Biden was briefed on the matter on Tuesday, he intended to drop it on land, but the Pentagon said otherwise.
The Pentagon argued that the move could potentially harm the population.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken canceled his visit to Beijing this week after the suspicious balloon came to light in an effort to ease tensions between the US and China.
However, the Chinese government has expressed a slightly different position regarding the cancellation of the visit on Saturday.
"In fact, China and the US have not announced any such visit," China's foreign ministry said in a statement. Any such announcement by the US is a unilateral move and we respect it.
