China complains while US shoots down suspected spy balloon

 

Beijing has expressed its "strong dissatisfaction and protest" against Washington's decision to shoot down its balloon, accusing it of "overreacting" and "seriously violating international practice."

US military fighter jets on Saturday shot down the balloon over the Atlantic Ocean in a mission President Joe Biden said is a success.

Multiple fighter and refueling aircraft were involved in the mission, but only one -- an F-22 fighter jet from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia -- took the shot at 2:39 p.m. (1939 GMT), using a single AIM-9X supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile, a senior U.S. military official said.

The United States believes the balloon was involved in using spies to obtain information  but China has discredited the allegation, claiming it was a civilian research vessel blown off course.

Soon aftreward, China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday morning local time expressing its "strong dissatisfaction and protest against the US's use of force to attack a civilian unmanned aircraft."The Chinese side has repeatedly informed the US side after verification that the airship is for civilian use and entered the US due to force majeure -- it was completely an accident," the Foreign Ministry said.

"China clearly asked the US to handle it properly in a calm, professional and restrained manner. A spokesman for the US Department of Defense also stated that the balloon will not pose a military or personal threat to ground personnel," the statement continued.

"China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of relevant companies, while reserving the right to make further necessary reaction," the ministry added. The US military will now focus on debris recovery efforts.