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China calls the balloon a civilian weather airship

When
A white high-altitude balloon against a blue sky
The Chinese balloon passing southwest of Charlotte, N.C., on Feb. 4, 2023 Jeanne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

China's Foreign Ministry said the object over the U.S. was a civilian airship for mainly meteorological research, blown off course by westerly winds, and expressed regret over its unintended entry. The Pentagon rejected this, saying it was a surveillance balloon.

Sources

  1. OfficialForeign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Unintended Entry of a Chinese Unmanned Airship into US Airspace Due to Force MajeureMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC / 2023-02-03
  2. PressChina says balloon that entered US airspace was 'unintended'Semafor / 2023-02-03

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