Beijing: China on Sunday strongly condemned the Pentagon’s decision to shoot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon flying over North America. China accused the US of “blatantly over-reacting and seriously violating international norms” in the case.

F-22 jet fired and shot down missile

“China expresses strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the use of force by the United States to attack unmanned civilian airships,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Pentagon officials said the plane spent days escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing as it flew over North America. It was shot down by an F-22 jet on Saturday.

“Planned and legitimate action”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the operation as a “planned and legitimate action” and said it was in response to China’s unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. U.S. officials said for the first time on Thursday they were tracking a large Chinese “surveillance balloon” in U.S. skies.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday cancelled his visit to Beijing to stem rising US-China tensions. After initial hesitation, Beijing acknowledged ownership of the “airship”, but said it was a weather-detecting balloon that had strayed.

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