China said on Sunday that it “strongly disapproves and protests” against the United States’ attack on an unmanned Chinese airship that strayed into U.S. airspace earlier this week.
“The U.S. use of force is a clear overreaction and a serious violation of international practice,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, adding that Beijing has asked Washington to handle the matter in a “calm, professional and restrained manner.”
The Chinese side has verified and informed the U.S. of the civilian nature of the airship and that its entry into the U.S. due to “force majeure was totally unexpected,” the ministry said.
The statement also said China will “resolutely safeguard” the rights and interests of the company concerned and that the country reserves the right to make further responses if necessary.
A U.S. military fighter jet shot down the airship Saturday afternoon local time over waters off the coast of South Carolina, after U.S. President Joe Biden gave his authorization to take down the suspected surveillance balloon Wednesday, according to a U.S. Department of Defense statement.
The foreign ministry said Friday that the Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the civilian airship, which had been used mainly for meteorological research purposes.
Following the incident, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his planned trip to Beijing, according to a state department statement. The trip was reportedly scheduled to take place from Sunday to Monday.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Bertrand Teo (bertrandteo@caixin.com)
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