He expressed confidence that what happened was just a “puncture, rather than a deliberate act by someone releasing a balloon in China.” At the same time, the hysterical reaction of the United States to what happened “for no reason only showed the degree of mutual mistrust,” RIA Novosti quoted the diplomat as saying.
Recall that NBC reported last week that the US military had been tracking a Chinese reconnaissance balloon for several days as it flew from the Aleutian Islands, across Canada and into the state of Montana. Later, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that a Chinese balloon had inadvertently entered the US sky due to westerly winds and limited control capabilities. It was emphasized that this is a purely civilian object. However, the United States shot down a Chinese weather balloon.
This decision had a negative impact on the stabilization process of relations between Washington and Beijing, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng said. He also added that Beijing will protect its national interests.
