Attempt to spy on US is anticipated from China: US President on 'balloon' incident

According to the United States President Joe Biden, China understands the US's position over shooting down its spy balloon.

Washington, Feb 07: US President Joe Biden has defended his decision to shoot down the China's spy balloon and said the incident has not weakened the relations between the two countries.

Biden, speaking to reporters, said that he always felt that the balloon should be shot down. "Once it came over the United States from Canada, I told the Defense Department I wanted to shoot it down as soon as it was appropriate," AFP quoted Biden as saying.

He said that China understands US' position and the balloon incident has not weaked the relationship between the two countries. "No. We made it clear to China what we're going to do. They understand our position. We're not going to back off," he stated. Biden added, "We did the right thing and it's not a question of weakening or strengthening - it's reality."

The United States on Saturday shot down the Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean as it crossed the continental America after hovering over its skies from Montana to South Carolina.

The US President said that he was not surprised by the incident as "attempting to spy on the United States is something that is anticipated from China". "It's not a question of trusting China, it's a question of deciding where we can work together and where we have opposition," he added.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stated that the balloon's flight over US skies did not help to improve tense relations with China. "It's up to China to figure out what kind of relationship they want," she said.

However, China expressed its strong dissatisfaction against the US, saying it "reserves the right to use necessary means to deal with similar situations."

China's foreign ministry has also criticised the United States for bringing down its balloon for "an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice."

"US' overreaction seriously violated the international practice. China will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests of relevant companies, while reserving the right to make further necessary reactions," China's state-run Global Times quoted ministry as saying.

The balloon row comes at a time when the tensions between Washington and Beijing are high on issues ranging from Taiwan to South China sea, from human rights in western Xinjiang region to clampdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong. China's support to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine has only added to growing tensions between the two global superpowers although the two countries have cooperation on trade and counter-terrorism.

Meanwhile, the US officials have claimed that the recovery of debris would give an insight into China's spying capabilities.

A naval ship has been deployed to map the debris field that is expected to measure about about 1,500 by 1,500 meters (yards) in the Atlantic, General Glen VanHerck, head of the US Northern Command, said. "I don't know where the debris is going to go for a final analysis, but I will tell you that certainly the intel community along with the law enforcement community that works this under counterintelligence will take a good look at it," he said.