China News Service, Beijing, February 15th (Reporter Guo Chaokai) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference on February 15th.
A reporter asked: China said that since May last year, US balloons have illegally flown over China's airspace at least 10 times. How did China deal with these balloons?
Wang Wenbin: We have already pointed out that since May last year, the US has launched a large number of high-altitude balloons over the US mainland and continued to circle the globe. Without the approval of relevant Chinese authorities, it has illegally flown over China's airspace at least a dozen times, including Xinjiang, Tibet and other provinces.
The Chinese side has repeatedly explained to the US side that a Chinese civilian airship strayed into US airspace due to force majeure.
However, the U.S. made no mention of the U.S. balloon flying over China’s airspace illegally without China’s approval, and claimed that China was spreading false information.
The U.S. accuses the Chinese airship of straying into U.S. airspace as a violation of U.S. sovereignty. How should the U.S. explain why the U.S. balloon illegally flew over China’s airspace?
China has calmly and professionally dealt with the U.S. balloon that illegally flew over China’s airspace, but the U.S. overreacted to the Chinese civilian airship that strayed into U.S. airspace due to force majeure. Self-examination, stop smearing and attacking China, and stop misleading the American people and the international community. China reserves the right to make further necessary reactions.
(over)