The Chinese government accused the United States of exercising military coercion and showing a disregard for international and domestic law by launching balloons in a display of "flagrant military unrestrainedness.
The incident, which took place in the East China Sea on July 29 and 30, drew condemnation from the Chinese side with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying describing it as "an act of military provocation" and warning that the US was taking risks that could impact the wider region's peace and stability.
The US Navy deployed the two surveillance balloons in the airspace in the disputed waters between China, Taiwan and Japan, which the Chinese government alleges violates international law. China has contested Taiwanese and Japanese claims to the area and has maintained a presence there.
The US Navy defended its decision as a “normal routine operation” and said it was not targeting any nation in particular. Despite this, the move has angered China and has been largely seen as a gesture of power in the region.
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