China protests US downing of its civilian balloon
(VOVWORLD) - The Chinese Foreign Ministry has expressed strong dissatisfaction and protested against the US' use of force to shoot down a Chinese civilian balloon.
In its statement released on Sunday, China criticized the US for an overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.
Earlier, US media reported that the US warplane shot down a Chinese hot air balloon off the coast of the Carolinas in the Atlantic Ocean on midday Saturday (local time).
China's Foreign Ministry said in a Friday statement that the balloon was used for mostly meteorological purposes and affirmed that China regrets its unintended entry into US airspace and that it had deviated from its course due to winds.