02-19-2023, 10:25 AM
Senior Chinese diplomat blasts US reaction to balloon as ‘hysterical, violates intl norms’
![[Image: 0f634286-e5bb-46ee-a9a4-15f22f67c87d.jpeg]](https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2023/2023-01-05/0f634286-e5bb-46ee-a9a4-15f22f67c87d.jpeg)
The US' handling of an astray Chinese airship was "hysterical, abused force" and apparently violated international norms and conventions, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said on Saturday when taking questions at a session of the ongoing Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany.
On a trip to Europe, Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has visited France and Italy, and will depart for Hungary and Russia after attending the MSC.
Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the "balloon" was a civilian unmanned airship, which was blown into US airspace due to a strong westerly wind. We requested the US to handle it calmly, professionally through communication with China. "Regretfully, the US disregarded those facts, deployed advanced fighter jets and shot down a 'balloon' with missiles," Wang said.
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On a trip to Europe, Wang, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has visited France and Italy, and will depart for Hungary and Russia after attending the MSC.
Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the "balloon" was a civilian unmanned airship, which was blown into US airspace due to a strong westerly wind. We requested the US to handle it calmly, professionally through communication with China. "Regretfully, the US disregarded those facts, deployed advanced fighter jets and shot down a 'balloon' with missiles," Wang said.
- More -