The aircraft, which Washington said was a spy balloon, had spent several days flying over North America, leading the United States to call off a planned visit to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Washington on Saturday said a fighter jet had shot it down off the coast of South Carolina, because of what it called Beijing's "unacceptable violation" of American sovereignty.
Beijing protested the move, claiming the balloon was a civilian aircraft that was blown off course, and on Sunday lodged an official complaint with the US embassy in China.
"The United States' actions have seriously impacted and damaged both sides' efforts and progress in stabilising Sino-US relations since the Bali meeting," vice foreign minister Xie Feng said in the complaint, according to a foreign ministry statement.
He was referring to a summit between presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November.
Beijing, the statement added, "is paying close attention to the development of the situation" and "reserves the right to make further necessary reactions".
Pentagon officials on Friday described the airship as a "high-altitude surveillance balloon", adding that Washington had taken steps to block it from collecting sensitive information.
A day after Pentagon officials said another balloon had been spotted somewhere over Latin America, air force officials in Colombia said an object with "characteristics similar to those of a balloon" had been detected Friday and "monitored until it left the national air space".
Beijing confirms balloon flying over Latin America is Chinese
Beijing (AFP) Feb 6, 2023 -
China confirmed Monday that a balloon identified by Washington and Bogota flying over Latin America is Chinese, after a similar device was shot down by the United States over the weekend.
The Pentagon said Friday that a second suspected Chinese spy balloon had been seen across Latin America.
Colombia's air force then reported an object with "characteristics similar to those of a balloon" had been detected and "monitored until it left the national air space".
The air force said it was conducting investigations in coordination with other countries and institutions "to establish the origins of the object".
Beijing's foreign ministry Monday said the object was "from China" and that it was of "a civilian nature and used for flight tests".
"Affected by weather forces in addition to its manoeuvrability being limited, the airship deviated greatly from its expected course, and accidentally entered Latin American and Caribbean airspace," spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing.
"China is a responsible country and has always strictly abided by international law," she added.
"We have communicated with the relevant parties and are handling appropriately, and will not cause any threat to any country."
The detection of the other balloon over the United States prompted the cancellation of a planned China visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who had been due to arrive in Beijing on Sunday.
China voiced anger on Sunday at the shooting down of the balloon, which it insists was an unmanned weather surveillance aircraft that had veered off course.
Colombia says 'object' spotted overhead after Chinese balloon warning
Bogota (AFP) Feb 5, 2023 - Colombia said an "object" had overflown its territory after Washington warned that a suspected Chinese spy balloon similar to the one shot down off the US coast had been spotted over Latin America.
Colombia's Air Force said the object with "characteristics similar to those of a balloon" was detected on Friday and "monitored until it left the national air space."
The object flew at an altitude of 55,000 feet (17,000 meters) and an average speed of 25 knots (29 miles per hour, 46 kilometers per hour), said an air force statement Saturday, adding it "did not constitute a threat to national security and defense or to aviation security."
The air force said it was conducting investigations in coordination with other countries and institutions "to establish the origins of the object."
A US fighter jet on Saturday shot down what it said was a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina, denouncing an "unacceptable violation."
The craft spent several days flying over North America, ratcheting up tensions between Washington and Beijing, which said it was a weather balloon blown off course.
Another suspected Chinese spy balloon was seen over Latin America, the Pentagon said Friday, without providing details.
No other Latin American country has reported spotting the craft, while Venezuela on Sunday lashed out against "the attack by the United States against a civilian unmanned aircraft of Chinese origin."
Caracas, under US sanctions, said in a statement: "The United States once again resorts to the use of force rather than treating this situation with the seriousness and responsibility it merits."
Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
