China demanded the return of the wreckage of its downed balloon

According to Fars International News Group, in the continuation of the tension between the US and China over the entry of a balloon into the US airspace and the shooting down of this balloon by a fighter, the Chinese government announced that it wants to return the remains of this balloon.

China says the balloon was a weather research balloon, but the United States called it a spy and intelligence balloon.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning announced on Tuesday that Beijing wants the United States to return the remains of the weather balloons to China. This request was made while “John Kirby”, the coordinator of strategic affairs of the White House, announced on Monday that the United States does not intend to return the remains of the Chinese intelligence balloons to Beijing.

He said in a speech: “The United States does not intend to return the remains of the downed balloons to China, and Washington will study and examine the remains of these balloons to understand Beijing’s capabilities.”

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China added: This balloon does not belong to the United States and belongs to the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese government will continue to protect its legitimate interests.

He emphasized that the balloon was exclusively for civilian purposes and did not pose any threat to the national security of the United States.

The US military announced on Sunday (February 5th) that it is searching for the remains of the Chinese “spy balloon” that it shot down on Saturday.

Gen. Glenn VanHerk, head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and North American Command, said the Navy is working to recover the balloon and its cargo, and the Coast Guard is providing security for the operation.

On Saturday, the Biden administration issued an order to shoot down the Chinese balloon using an advanced F-22 stealth fighter.

Beijing described the US action as “a clear extreme reaction and a serious violation of international custom”. China’s Foreign Ministry also announced that Vice Foreign Minister Xi Feng submitted his formal protest to the US Embassy in Beijing regarding Washington’s use of force to attack civilian balloons.

end of message/m