China has threatened “further actions” in response to America’s “serious overreaction” in the downing of a suspected spy balloon.
The white aircraft was shot out of the sky off the South Carolina coast on Saturday after days of intrigue, while diplomatic relations soured further between Washington and Beijing.
US President Joe Biden ordered the object be brought down, with a defence official saying it was a spy balloon that China intended to use on sensitive military sites.
But Chinese officials insisted it was a meteorological and scientific research device that had been blown off course.
‘Obvious overreaction’
In a statement on Sunday, Beijing’s foreign ministry said: “China will resolutely uphold the relevant company’s legitimate rights and interests, and at the same time reserving the right to take further actions in response.”
Mr Biden’s order was an “obvious overreaction” that “seriously violated international conventions”, it added.
The balloon was shot down by an F-22 fighter aircraft, about six nautical miles off the coast of South Carolina, near Myrtle Beach, with ships deployed in the water to mount the recovery operation.
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Biden’s praise for US pilots
The US president said he had wanted the balloon shot down when it was first spotted over Billings, Montana, on Wednesday – close to a nuclear missile silo field at Malmstrom Air Force Base.
It had flown over the Aleutian Islands, off the coast of Alaska, and through Canada before entering the US.
But Mr Biden said he was advised to wait until it was over water because of the risks of falling debris.
“They successfully took it down and I want to compliment our aviators who did it,” he said on Saturday.
Ahead of the…
