China's foreign ministry has made a solemn complaint to the US embassy in Beijing about the shooting down of a Chinese balloon that was crossing the US mainland by US fighter jets off the coast of South Carolina. announced.
The American side claims that the balloon is for reconnaissance purposes, while the Chinese side claims that it is a civilian airship for meteorological research.
I've put together everything in chronological order.
(Date and time are local time)
2nd US Department of Defense announced that balloons will fly over the mainland
Pentagon spokesman Ryder said on February 2 that a reconnaissance balloon was seen flying higher above the continental United States than civilian aircraft would.
The balloon entered airspace over the mainland a few days earlier and was flying over Western Montana on February 1.
A senior Pentagon official told reporters that the balloon was Chinese.
The Pentagon has confirmed such balloon activity multiple times over the past several years, and the US government has told the Chinese side that it "takes the situation seriously."
On the 2nd, the Canadian Ministry of Defense also "confirmed a flight over Canada"
Canada's Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that it had spotted a reconnaissance balloon flying over Canada.
Canada's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it "continues to work with U.S. partners to take the necessary steps to protect Canada's classified information from foreign threats."
Canadians say they are safe and are taking steps to ensure the safety of their airspace, including monitoring the possibility of possible accidents.
3rd China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Hope for calm and careful handling"
China's foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a press conference on the 3rd that the US Department of Defense had confirmed that a reconnaissance balloon believed to be from China was flying over the mainland US. We are closely monitoring the relevant reports and are currently reviewing the situation.Speculations and exaggerated publicity before the facts are clear will not help to properly resolve the issue."
He added, "I hope that the United States will work with us to deal with this issue calmly and carefully."
March 3 US Secretary of State announces postponement of visit to China
In response to the discovery that Chinese balloons were flying over the mainland of the United States, US Secretary of State Brinken said to China, "This is a clear violation of sovereignty." I announced that I will postpone my visit to China, which was scheduled to depart on the 4th.
In it, Secretary Brinken said that the balloon flight was "an irresponsible act, a clear violation of sovereignty and a violation of international law," and said that such a situation undermined the significance of visiting China and that it was not appropriate. that I explained.
However, he said he would take note of the fact that the Chinese side is "regrettable" about the balloon flight.
And Secretary Brinken said that there was no change in his stance of maintaining a channel for dialogue between the United States and China, and that he would visit China as soon as possible if the situation were resolved.
3rd, Politburo member Wang Yi said, "Disagreements should be controlled."
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo who oversees foreign affairs in the Communist Party of China, had a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Brinken on the evening of the 3rd, saying, "Both sides will keep calm and communicate appropriately to control differences of opinion. should," he said, showing his willingness to continue dialogue with the Biden administration.
On the 4th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a statement by a spokesperson, saying that the Chinese balloons flying over the mainland of the United States were "airships for civil use and used for scientific research such as weather." , He repeatedly insisted that it was not for reconnaissance, as pointed out by the United States, and explained that it was "force majeure."
In addition, he pointed out that the US announced the postponement of Secretary Blinken's visit to China before the official announcement by both countries, and added, I will respect you,” he said.
On the other hand, while avoiding criticism of the Biden administration, the United States shows a hardline stance against China, stating that ``we firmly oppose the use of this issue by some American politicians and media to attack and slander China.'' The opposition party, the Republican Party, etc.
3rd U.S. Department of Defense argues that it is a reconnaissance balloon
At a press conference on the 3rd, Pentagon spokesman Ryder said of the Chinese balloons flying over the mainland of the United States, ``We know that they are reconnaissance balloons.'' He refuted the Chinese side's announcement that it was a civilian airship for research.
He then suggested that the balloon could be steered and that a reconnaissance device was installed under the balloon.
"The balloon violates US airspace, violates international law, and is unacceptable. We communicated directly with the Chinese side on multiple levels," Ryder said.
3rd US Secretary of State: 'Unacceptable and irresponsible'
U.S. Secretary of State Brinken, who hastily postponed his planned visit to China, held a press conference and strongly criticized China, stating, "It is unacceptable and irresponsible for China to fly a reconnaissance balloon."
On the other hand, he emphasized his intention to continue diplomatic engagement, saying, "Open communication remains important. I will go to China when the situation is right."
On the 4th, the US Department of Defense announced that the balloon was shot down by a missile.
US Secretary of Defense Austin issued a statement on the afternoon of the 4th local time, saying that a US military aircraft shot down a Chinese balloon flying over the mainland of the United States over the territorial waters off the southern coast of South Carolina. clarified.
An F-22 stealth fighter fired an air-to-air missile at the balloon at 2:39 p.m. local time (4:39 a.m. Japan time), according to a senior Pentagon official. That's it.
President Biden: 'I want to honor the pilots'
Regarding this, President Biden revealed that as of the 1st of this month, he had instructed to shoot down as soon as possible, saying, ``The military was waiting for the balloon to go above the sea to avoid damage to the ground. I would like to congratulate the pilots who successfully shot down the aircraft."
Defense Secretary Austin said the downed balloon was "used by China to monitor strategic locations on the mainland United States."
"It shows that the Biden administration will always put the safety of the American people first and will effectively deal with China's unacceptable violation of its sovereignty," he said.
5th: Ships and divers are introduced and recovery work is carried out.
There is also a US military base that operates ICBMs = intercontinental ballistic missiles in Western Montana on the route that the balloon flew, and a senior Pentagon official said, ``The balloon was also flying over highly confidential military facilities.'' points out.
The US military is clarifying what kind of information the Chinese side was trying to collect by collecting the wreckage of the balloon.
According to senior U.S. military officials and Pentagon officials, the wreckage of the downed balloon is scattered about 11 kilometers above the sea surface and in the sea at a depth of about 15 meters. We are also working on collecting them.
In addition, FBI = Federal Bureau of Investigation investigators who conduct anti-spying activities will also be on board the ship.
5th Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strong dissatisfaction and protest
Regarding the US Department of Defense's announcement that it shot down a Chinese balloon, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 5th, saying, "China has told the US that the unmanned airship is a civilian one, and that it entered the US because of force majeure. I repeatedly told him that it was a completely unexpected situation and clearly requested that it be handled calmly and rationally."
"The use of force by the United States is clearly an excessive response and a serious violation of international conventions. China will resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of relevant enterprises and take the necessary response." I reserve the right to do so," suggesting the idea of taking countermeasures if necessary.
5th Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs makes a solemn request to the US Embassy in Beijing
According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vice Minister Xie Feng made a solemn complaint to the US Embassy in Beijing on the 5th about the US military shooting down a balloon flying over the mainland US.
In it, Xie said, "The fact that a Chinese civilian unmanned airship strayed into American airspace was completely force majeure and an unexpected and accidental incident. The facts are very clear and distorted and defamatory." I will not allow it," he stressed.
He also criticized the actions of the US side for causing serious impact and damage to the efforts and process of stabilizing bilateral relations since the US-China summit in Indonesia last November.
"We lodge a strong protest and urge the United States not to further harm China's interests or escalate the tense situation," it said.