Chinese language Diplomat Calls Downing Of Alleged Spy Balloon ‘Absurd And Hysterical’

China’s high diplomat mentioned Saturday that the U.S. response to the invention of an alleged spy balloon was patently “absurd.”

“We requested the USA to deal with it calmly and professionally,” mentioned Wang, based on an English translation of his remarks.

“Regrettably, the USA … [disregarded] these details, and used superior fighter jets and downed a balloon with its missiles. That is, I might say, absurd and hysterical. That is … [an] abuse of the usage of power.”

He added: “It doesn’t present America is robust. Quite the opposite, it reveals the alternative.”

The balloon drifted over a number of states and was recognized by the Pentagon as a Chinese language spying machine earlier than President Joe Biden ordered it to be destroyed. Wang reiterated Beijing’s official stance that it was a civilian craft blown astray.

The balloon would grow to be the primary of 4 aerial objects downed by U.S. fighter jets in eight days. The three others had been shot out of the sky on Feb. 10, 11 and 12 after being noticed close to Alaska, Canada and Michigan. President Joe Biden mentioned Thursday that the extra objects doubtless weren’t surveillance autos.

The balloon’s discovery and downing have exacerbated tensions with Beijing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken notably canceled a deliberate Feb. 3 journey to China, and Beijing later accused the U.S. of violating its airspace, claiming that high-altitude balloons breached its territory greater than 10 instances since 2022. The White Home denied the allegation.

“Throughout the globe, there are lots of balloons within the sky from totally different international locations,” mentioned Wang on the Munich convention. “Do you wish to down every one in every of them?”

The worldwide gathering this weekend has largely centered on the Russia–Ukraine battle, which is able to mark its one-year anniversary Friday. Wang mentioned China was “deeply involved” by the disaster, including that it’s “on the facet of peace and dialogue.”

In accordance with the diplomat, Chinese language President Xi Jinping advised as early because the second day of the invasion that Russia and Ukraine “search political settlement of the disaster.” He acknowledged that this sort of course of “was stopped,” nonetheless, by entities unnamed.

“We have no idea why the method was lower brief. Some forces may not wish to see peace talks … materialize,” mentioned Wang. “They could have strategic objectives bigger than Ukraine itself.”