Categories: World

China refused call with Pentagon after F-22 shot down spy flight

close Video

China is ‘most serious adversary’ US has ever faced: Rep. Mike Waltz

House Armed Services Committee member Rep. Mike Waltz reacts to the Pentagon saying China outpaces the U.S. in missile launchers, telling ‘America Reports’ this is a ‘new cold war.’

The Pentagon sought out a phone call between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart on Saturday after shooting down the Chinese spy balloon, but the offer was rebuffed, officials said Tuesday. 

“Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this. Unfortunately, the PRC has declined our request. Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. 

An F-22 shot down the 200-foot tall Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday afternoon, about a week after it was detected over Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. 


  • next
    Image 1 of 2

    In this photo provided by Chad Fish, a large balloon drifts above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it, on Saturday, Feb. 4. (Chad Fish via AP)


  • prev
    Image 2 of 2

    The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023.  (REUTERS/Randall Hill  )

China was initially conciliatory about the balloon, saying on Feb. 3 before it was shot down that the “Chinese side regrets the unintended entry of the airship into US airspace due to force majeure.” 

AIR FORCE WARNS CHINESE COMPANY’S NORTH DAKOTA MILL WOULD BE ‘SIGNIFICANT’ NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT

After the balloon was destroyed by a Sidewinder missile on Saturday, Chinese officials took a more aggressive stance. 

“The U.S. should have properly handled such incidents in a calm and professional manner not involving the use of force, yet they decided to do otherwise, which is a clear overreaction,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday. 

“The airship does not belong to the U.S. It belongs to China.” 

US forces recover debris from a shot-down Chinese surveillance balloon. (US Fleet Forces)

The balloon, which weighed 2,000 pounds and had a payload roughly the size of a jet airliner, created a debris field in shallow waters that is about 1,500 meters by 1,500 meters. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels have been collecting and categorizing the debris before shipping it to an FBI processing lab in Quantico, Virginia, to be analyzed. 

China’s embassy in the U.S. did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.  

Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. 

Share

Recent Posts

Blinken questioned for State Department hosting in-house therapy sessions after Trump win

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., took aim at Secretary of State Antony Blinken after it was…

14 minutes ago

Fetterman admits Dems ‘sort of lost ourselves’ on key election issue

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., acknowledged that Democrats had a major problem when it came to…

3 hours ago

Sanctuary states, cities should explain to DOGE why they deserve federal money: MTG

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Sunday said leaders of sanctuary states and cities should…

3 hours ago

Manchin slams ‘17 educated idiots’ that were advising Biden during COVID

Outgoing Independent West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin slammed some of the advice President Biden received…

3 hours ago

First openly trans rep-elect claims GOP spotlighting transgender issues an ‘attempt to distract’ voters

The first openly transgender politician elected to the U.S. House, Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, claimed…

3 hours ago

Unearthed footage of Barron Trump speaking with mom’s accent spreads like wildfire after dad’s massive win

Videos of future first son Barron Trump speaking in a Slovenian accent as a young…

3 hours ago