On February 18, 2023, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Bureau of the Central Commission on Foreign Affairs, had informal contact with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the 59th Munich Security Conference.
Wang Yi explained China's strong position on the so-called "balloon incident", and called on the US to change course and acknowledge and repair the damage that its abuse of force has caused in China-US relations.
Wang made it clear that on many occasions, US high-altitude balloons have flown illegally over China's airspace in violation of relevant Chinese and international laws. The US should also give an explanation for spying and stealing secrets from countries around the world, including its allies, and its glider drone used to gather intelligence found in Namibian waters.
On February 15, the US Senate passed two resolutions “condemning the deployment of a surveillance balloon high over US territory by China as a flagrant violation of US sovereignty. But these resolutions do not reflect the basic facts. They are purely political and dramatise the situation.
The entry of a Chinese civilian unmanned airship into the US airspace was purely unintended, unexpected and isolated event caused by force majeure. However, the US still decided to use force against the civilian airship, even as it was about to leave US airspace. This is a clear overreaction that seriously contravened the spirit of international law and customary international practice.
Recently, US President Joe Biden said that the US must now develop "tighter rules" to deal with and respond to future intrusions into US airspace by balloons and other unidentified flying objects. Meanwhile, would there be room for discussion with China about common rules and understanding when it comes to these types of ships and invaders?
There are existing rules in international law related to civil aircraft that are practised around the world. However, the US overreacted and abused its use of force in shooting down China's civilian unmanned aerial vehicles. American balloons have flown illegally over China's airspace several times without Chinese approval. The US is unable to talk about "establishing common global standards." It must seriously comply with international law and customs.
Since May, 2022 the US has launched a large number of high-altitude balloons, which continuously circle the globe and illegally overfly China's airspace, including Xinjiang and Tibet, more than 10 times without the approval of the relevant Chinese authorities. But China has calmly and professionally handled the illegal flight of American balloons through its airspace.
China has repeatedly shared information about the accidental intrusion of its civilian drone into US airspace, Japan should take an objective and fair position, properly consider this unexpected incident caused by force majeure, and stop following the US example through dramatization to follow him.
Wang stated China's firm stance on the balloon incident, noting that the US had used force and violated standard international practice and the International Convention on Civil Aviation. In fact, the US is the number one surveillance country.
The must show sincerity, and acknowledge and repair the damage that its abuse of force has caused to US-China relations. If the US continues to worry, dramatise and escalate the unintended and isolated incident, it should not expect China to back down. It must be prepared to bear any consequences resulting from an escalation.
The accidental and isolated entry of the Chinese civilian drone into US airspace was a test of the US 's ability to properly manage the crisis and its sincerity in stabilising relations with China. The superpower must stop emphasizing the importance of communication and dialogue, as this is fueling tensions and escalating the crisis.
It must work with China in the same direction to resolve differences, adequately deal with this unexpected and isolated incident, avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, and put China-US relations back on the path of solid and steady development.
The writer is the Executive Director of South-South Dialogues and a PhD student in International Relations at USIU-Africa.
