China rejects US' spy balloon accusation, says civilian airship deviated from planned course caused by force majeure
Photo:Xinhua
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that an unmanned airship that appeared in the US is a civilian airship from China that deviated far from its planned course, and said China will continue communicating with the US to properly handle the unexpected situation caused by force majeure.
On Friday, US media cited Pentagon officials as saying that a "Chinese spy balloon" hovering over Montana this week had a flight path that took it over several sensitive US military sites.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a release on Friday night that the "balloon" is a civilian airship used for meteorological research purposes.
"Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course. The Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into the US airspace due to force majeure," said the spokesperson.
The Chinese side will continue communicating with the US side and properly handle this unexpected situation caused by force majeure, said the spokesperson.
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