The entry of a Chinese unmanned airship into US airspace has created an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between the two great powers, US and China, resulting in the postponement of US secretary of State Blinken’s planned trip to China. Despite US claims that the balloon was used for surveillance China denies the allegation. Let’s see what China has to say about the balloon.
China’s initial response to the balloon affair
On February 4, 2023, the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry stated that the balloon was a civilian airship used mainly for meteorological researches. “Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course. This is entirely an unexpected situation caused by force majeure,” the spokesperson added.
China Daily, an English-language newspaper owned by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party, argued that surveillance balloons are an outdated military technology. Pentagon officials have also concurred, stating that the intelligence threat posed by the balloon is no more extensive than what China can gather from a satellite.
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The New York Times reported that balloons equipped with high-tech sensors are making a comeback because they have an advantage over spy satellites. The balloons can linger over a specific area for longer periods and capture radio, cellular, and other transmissions that cannot be detected from by satellites from space. Since Montana houses America’s nuclear missile silos, containing 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, at Malmstrom Air Force Base the recent sighting of a balloon in the area is highly sensitive, claimed the newspaper.
Interestingly, China Daily, in its editorial on February 3, 2023, pointed out this sensitive fact and said: “the real question is why are the US hoarding such a large stockpile of weapons of mass destruction?”
China Daily further claimed that it is impossible to precisely control the flight of a balloon over 9,000km away, which is the distance of the shortest route between Beijing and Montana.
Escalation
Initially, it appeared that the incident of the balloon’s journey over the United States would be quickly forgotten. The Biden administration stated that the vessel posed no danger to Americans, and China, in an unusual display, took responsibility and expressed regret for the incident.
However, it gradually became evident that the situation would not simply disappear.
The US was no longer happy with China’s response to the balloon affair. They started accusing that the balloon was part of a global surveillance fleet directed by China’s military.
China’s response to the balloon affair also increasingly moved away from the initial regret and the Chinese foreign ministry started accusing the United States of exaggeration and hypocrisy.
After shooting down the balloon
On February 4, the balloon was shot down by an air-to-air missile fired from an F-22 fighter jet, approximately six miles off the coast of South Carolina.
This act elicited strong dissatisfaction from China.
On February 5, 2023, the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of China described the US response as an “obvious overreaction” and said, “We express solemn protest against this move by the US side and reserve the right to use necessary means to deal with similar situations.”
On February 7, 2023, the Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, Xu Xueyuan, made a strong protest to high-level officials at the US State Department and the White House National Security Council regarding the shooting down of the airship.
China’s response to the US House of Representative’s resolution
On February 9, the US House of Representatives adopted a resolution condemning China for the entry into US airspace by a civilian Chinese airship.
The next day, China expressed firm opposition to the resolution. “The resolution is purely political manipulation and hyping,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
China’s defense ministry also took a firm stance when it released a statement on February 9th, rejecting a proposed phone call from the American Defense Minister. The statement referred to the United States’ shooting down of the balloon as an “irresponsible and serious error” that does not create an atmosphere for dialogue.
The US blacklists 6 Chinese entitiies
On February 10, 2023, the US Department of Commerce imposed restrictions on sales of some American technology to 5 Chinese aviation and technology companies, as well as one research organization.
These entities include Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Company, Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Company, Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Company, Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Company, Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Company and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute.
However, the Commerce Department did not clarify if the companies and the institute were directly involved in the development and operation of the balloon.
This action represents the first economic response to the balloon incident by the Biden administration.
Alan Estevez, the Under Secretary of commerce for industry and security of United States, said, “Today’s action makes clear that entities that seek to harm U.S. national security and sovereignty will be cut off from accessing U.S. technologies.”
