Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local Syrian sources: The raids targeted the road between the village of Al-Mazra'a and the city of Sweida, where forces and factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense are advancing.
Local Syrian sources: New raids carried out by Israeli warplanes targeted vehicles and gatherings of military factions affiliated with the new Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Local Syrian sources: Israeli raids target, for the third time, gatherings of Syrian Defense Forces military factions in the southern countryside of Sweida.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza Strip hospitals received 120 martyrs and 557 wounded in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis

Beijing says balloon over Latin America belongs to China

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Feb 2023 22:35
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

After the first ballon shoot-down over the US, Kirby confirms that there exists no need to escalate tensions between the US and China or to devolve ties.

  • x
  • the balloon thing
    The Chinese balloon over the US (Reuters)

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed on Monday that the balloon located over Latin American skies belongs to China and was intended for flight tests, adding that the balloon "seriously deviated" from its course and entered the current airspace “by mistake” as a result of weather conditions and limited control ability. 

This comes as the second time a Chinese balloon is spotted after the first was shot down by the US on Saturday for being suspected as a "spy" balloon. In response, Mao stated, “China is a responsible country. We have always strictly abided by international law. We have informed all relevant parties and appropriately handled the situation, which did not pose any threats to any countries,” stressing that all parties “expressed their understanding.”

Both Colombian Air Force and Costa Rica’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed viewing a white balloon similar to the one spotted over the US but did not instantly point fingers at China. 

However, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder claimed it was "another Chinese surveillance balloon."

An 'attack and smear' against China

The first balloon was located over the North American Aerospace Defense Command on January 28 over Alaska, before it was found floating over missile sites in Montana. Days later, after tracking, the US decided to shoot it down over the South Carolina coast. 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday that "China... never violated the territory and airspace of any sovereign country," adding that "some politicians and media in the United States used the (balloon) incident as a pretext to attack and smear China."

Related News

Austin to announce $500 mln in weapons to Ukraine

9/11 suspects may avoid death penalty after Court reverses Austin

Read next: Previous Chinese 'spy' balloons went undetected while in US airspace

Following the shoot-down, US Navy and Coast Guard vessels went to the site where the debris of the balloon was found and a senior military official confirmed that the DoD, the FBI, and “counter-intelligence authorities ” are on “a collaborative effort” to aid in “categorizing and assessing the platform itself."

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said afterward, "... at the direction of President Biden, U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command successfully brought down the high altitude surveillance balloon launched by and belonging to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the water off the coast of South Carolina in US airspace."

According to the Defense Secretary, the balloon had been used by China in efforts to "surveil strategic sites" in the US.

Blinken still due to go to China

In light of the balloon shoot-down and China's response of possible retaliation, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby assured during a press briefing on Monday that no reason exists to escalate tensions between the US and China over the balloon.

Read more: Republicans lambast Biden over handling of Chinese balloon

“There is no reason for the tensions in our bilateral relationship to devolve into some kind of conflict, but we will obviously continue to fly, sail and operate within the bounds of international law as we have,” Kirby said. 

Following the responses, Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to China was confirmed by Kirby to be postponed and not voided. 

“It was postponed, it was not canceled,” Kirby said.

It is worth noting that relations between the US and China have deteriorated particularly over Taiwan, with Washington selling arms to Taipei, as Biden has said he would help protect the island in case of an alleged Chinese attack.

  • Lloyd Austin
  • Mao Ning
  • US
  • China
  • Costa Rica
  • Latin America
  • John Kirby
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS