Controversy over 'Jeongchal Balloon'... Chinese Media Calls It an Overreaction Exposing US Incompetence

"Unable to Make the Right Judgment Due to Anti-China Hawkish Pressure"
President Biden Draws the Line on Concerns Over Deteriorating Relations

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung, New York=Special Correspondent Jo Seulgina] Amid growing Western concerns and criticisms over China's reconnaissance balloons, China is attempting to manage the situation by pointing out that the reaction is an 'overreaction.' In particular, local media have intensified their criticism of the U.S. military's shootdown action, calling it a display of incompetence in crisis management.

On the 6th, China's state-run Global Times (GT) reported, "Politicizing an accident caused by force majeure reveals the United States' incompetence in crisis response," adding, "The U.S.'s rude handling of the incident is a provocation that risks derailing China-U.S. relations, and ultimately, they will pay the price for their recklessness."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Earlier, the U.S. Department of Defense detected a balloon entering its airspace on the 28th of last month and, under the direction of President Joe Biden, shot it down on the 4th with an air-to-air missile fired from an F-22 stealth fighter jet. The Department of Defense confirmed that although reconnaissance balloons had entered U.S. airspace three times during former President Donald Trump's administration and once during the Biden administration, this was the first time they had been detected. Subsequently, the same reconnaissance balloon was spotted in Colombia, and the German government also began verifying the situation, reportedly consulting with key allies on response measures.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Deputy Minister Xie Feng described the U.S. shootdown of the reconnaissance balloon as "an unforeseen accident caused by force majeure involving a civilian airship entering U.S. airspace," stating, "The cause-and-effect relationship is clear, leaving no room for distortion or further spread. The U.S. ignoring this fact and using military force to shoot down a civilian airship is an overreaction and a serious violation of the spirit and practice of international law." Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, also criticized at the regular briefing on the same day, saying, "History proves that the U.S. has always trampled on international law and infringed on other countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity," and added, "The U.S. side's deliberate exaggeration and even use of force is an unacceptable and irresponsible act."

Experts within China view the core issue as the Biden administration's political judgment aimed at not going against 'anti-China sentiment.' L? Xiang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told GT, "The balloon is just a harmless civilian airship, and the Biden administration was afraid of Republican criticism over a weak response, so it could not make the right decision." Sun Chenghao, a researcher at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy, also told the media, "The Biden administration, unable to withstand pressure from anti-China hawks, is fostering anti-China sentiment and creating more obstacles to exchanges, ultimately destroying bilateral relations," and predicted, "More China-related issues will rise to the political stage in the U.S."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

However, President Biden has drawn a line regarding concerns that this incident could affect China-U.S. relations. When asked about the matter by reporters at the White House that day, he said, "We have made clear to China what we intend to do, and they understand our position," adding, "We did the right thing, and this is not a matter of weakening or strengthening (relations)."

Nonetheless, some predict that China-U.S. relations, which had been improving following the summit at the end of last year, could deteriorate again. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre also emphasized during a briefing that the world, including the U.S., has seen China's irresponsible behavior in this incident and stated, "We want to make it clear that China's actions are unacceptable." Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who was originally scheduled to visit China, abruptly postponed his trip on the 3rd, the day of departure, citing the reconnaissance balloon issue. President Biden is also expected to mention China's reconnaissance balloon in his upcoming State of the Union address scheduled for the evening of the 7th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.