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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli aircraft launch airstrike on al-Mahmoudiya.
Macron: France to restore voluntary military service from next summer
Pope Leo XIV arrives in Turkey on first overseas trip
CBS News: The suspect in the shooting of 2 National Guard troops in Washington has been identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national who is believed to have acted alone.
Al Mayaden's correspondent in South Lebanon: IOF launch flares over Markaba
Russia leaves intergovernmental agreement with countries of Euro-Arctic region on cooperation in emergency prevention and response: Moscow
PIJ: These reports aim to sow discord and incite against our Palestinian people and the camps
PIJ: We deny reports that the movement is strengthening its capabilities in Syria
Taiwan’s President: Taiwan will adopt a self-defense strategy to confront China’s threats.
Taiwan’s President: “One country, two regimes” is a red line for Taiwan.

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.

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

Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of commander Haitham Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 23 Nov 2025
Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham Tabatabai

  • Politics
  • 23 Nov 2025
The West delivers 1,000th military supply aircraft to 'Israel' since the Gaza genocide.

West sends 1,000th arms aircraft to 'Israel' since Gaza genocide

  • Palestine
  • 20 Nov 2025
Hezbollah releases the names of the four martyred with Tabatabai

Hezbollah releases the names of the 4 martyred alongside Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 24 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
Turkey
Politics

Turkey: Lebanon-Cyprus maritime deal ignores Turkish Cypriots

US Navy, San Francisco
US & Canada

US Navy withheld plutonium alert from San Francisco for 11 months

India weighs a major expansion of its S-400 fleet, as the Su-57 remains off the table.
Politics

India weighs major expansion of S-400 fleet; Su-57 stays off the table

China warns of rising nuclear risks after Trump announces a testing plan.
Politics

China warns of rising nuclear risks after Trump announces testing plan

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