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
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: The talks will focus on the political aspect, and the agency's delegation will not be accompanied by any inspector
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: An IAEA delegation will visit Tehran next week to discuss mechanisms for implementing the parliament's law suspending cooperation with the agency
Palestinian media: Herds of Israeli settlers storm the al-Aqsa Mosque and perform Talmudic rituals in it

China, US tensions on the rise over alleged 'espionage' aerial objects

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Feb 2023 15:39
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Despite the Chinese balloon incident, US officials show signs that Washington is not seeking to inject instability into already tense relations.

  • x
  • China
    Sailors recover the suspected Chinese high-altitude balloon that was downed by the United States over US territorial waters off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Feb. 5, 2023. (Reuters)

Chinese and American diplomats have been exchanging remarks over the Chinese balloon that roamed Canada and US airspace for a week and was downed on February 4.

Since downing the balloon, the US military announced shooting down three more objects over sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska, one over Canada's Yukon, and the third shot down over Lake Huron.

On Tuesday, the White House said it was still searching for debris from the most recent, unmanned objects and had not seen any indication they were part of China's spy program.

China insists that the balloon shot down on February 4 was a civilian weather-monitoring aircraft, accusing the US of sending its own balloons into Chinese airspace and other countries.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin pointed out that US balloons "flew around the world and illegally entered the airspaces of China and other relevant countries at least ten times," since May 2022.

Adrienne Watson, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, claimed on Monday that "any claim that the US government operates surveillance balloons over the PRC is false."

The US has imposed sanctions on six Chinese entities it accuses of being tied to the balloon, which drew criticism from China on Tuesday.

Related News

Taiwan claims another eight Chinese balloons detected around island

China slams US claims of espionage as 'complete slander'

However, US officials have shown signs that Washington is not seeking to inject instability into already tense relations.

US President Joe Biden said he does not believe relations between Beijing and Washington were weakened after the balloon incident.

In the same context, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who postponed a planned trip to Beijing over the discovery of the balloon, is considering meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Munich this week, sources said.

On Monday, the US military confirmed it had recovered critical electronics from the Chinese balloon, as well as large sections of the vessel itself, but did not recover the most recent three objects shot down, with tough weather conditions making recovery operations difficult.

White House Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday that no group or individual has claimed the three objects, noting that the US intelligence community believes they could be "tied to some commercial or benign purpose."

Reuters reported that top US defense and military officials on Tuesday held a classified briefing for senators at the Capitol, where the Republicans urged Biden to publicly share more information about the three objects.

After the briefing, Republican Senator Marco Rubio considered that 95% "of what was discussed in that room today can be made public without compromising the security of this country."

Read more: US sent 'weather' balloons to spy on China, USSR in 1950s

  • Chinese balloon
  • Beijing
  • Washington
  • US
  • China

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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