The People’s Republic of China claims the Chinese balloon spotted over the northern United States is a civilian weather device.
“Regarding the unintentional entry of a Chinese unmanned airship into US airspace due to force majeure, the Chinese side has verified it and communicated it to the US side. It is a civilian airship used for research purposes , mainly meteorological,” said a foreign minister. Ministry spokesman on Saturday. “Stricked by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capabilities, the airship deviated greatly from its intended course.”
A SUSPECTED CHINESE SPY BALLOON COULD END OVER CAROLINES LATER THIS WEEKEND IF BIDEN IS NOT INTERESTED
The National Weather Service released photos on Friday of a large balloon flying over Kansas City, Missouri, amid concerns about a Chinese spy balloon in US airspace.
(National Weather Service)
China has said since the beginning of the international incident that the balloon should never have entered US airspace. This talking point was reiterated by the foreign ministry on Saturday.
“This is a completely unexpected situation caused by force majeure and the facts are very clear. China always acts in strict accordance with international law and respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. We have no intention of infringing and will not has ever violated the territory or airspace of any sovereign country.”
PENTAGON SAYS ANOTHER CHINESE SPY BALLOON IS TRAVELING OVER LATIN AMERICA
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Oct. 16, 2022.
(REUTERS/Thomas Peter)
Now, Chinese officials are accusing US lawmakers and the media of “hyp[ing] up” the balloon inaccurately.
“Some politicians and media in the United States have advertised it to attack and slander China. The Chinese side is strongly against it.”
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A balloon flies in the sky above Billings, Montana, Feb. 1, 2023, in this image taken from social media.
(Returned)
A senior US defense official told Fox News the balloon was launched from mainland China. The Pentagon does not believe that it was a weather balloon that flew off course. There was no “force majeure” that caused the Chinese surveillance balloon to enter US airspace, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
“This was intentional,” the senior US official said.
Jennifer Griffin and Chris Pandolfo of Fox News contributed to this report.
