The United States Defense Department has challenged China’s explanation of a balloon that was seen drifting across the U.S. last week.
The department is “100% clear” that the airship was not a civilian meteorological data collection device, as claimed by Beijing, but was instead used for espionage purposes.
“I can assure this was not for civilian purposes. We are 100% clear on that,” said Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, a department spokesman, during a press briefing.
When asked to provide evidence to support this assertion, Ryder declined, but pointed to China’s behavior following the balloon’s discovery.
“If, in fact, it was a civilian balloon – a weather balloon – and it was approaching a sovereign nation about to enter their airspace, a responsible nation would have put out some kind of public statement saying, ‘Hey, heads up. This is heading your way. We just want to let you know,'” he said.
“The PRC did not do that,” he added, referring to the People’s Republic of China. “They didn’t respond until after they were called out.”
The U.S. Defense Department’s claims are in direct contrast to China’s position, which is that the balloon was used for strictly civilian purposes.
Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized on Wednesday that any attempt to exaggerate or hype up the “China threat” will be detrimental to building mutual trust between the two countries, according to China’s state-owned media.
The disagreement between the two nations continues, with no resolution in sight.
