US Air Force Shoots Down Chinese Surveillance Balloon, Sparking Criticism from Both Parties

The United States Air Force shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon on Thursday, prompting a response from Beijing and a call from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to his Chinese counterpart.

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution condemning China for the incident, which it called a “brazen violation” of U.S. sovereignty and an effort to “deceive the international community through false claims about its intelligence collection campaigns.”

In response, China’s Defense Ministry issued a statement late Thursday, saying the U.S. action had “seriously violated international norms and set a pernicious precedent.” The ministry also said it refused Austin’s call for a general-to-general talk, citing the lack of a “proper atmosphere” for dialogue and exchange.

The incident has sparked criticism from Republicans, who have accused the Biden administration of not acting quickly enough to shoot down the balloon. However, both parties’ lawmakers have expressed concern over the incident and its implications for U.S. security.

The U.S. and China have a long history of diplomatic tensions, and this incident is likely to further complicate the relationship between the two countries. It remains to be seen how the two sides will resolve the issue and move forward.