China calls U.S. House resolution 'political manipulation'
CTV
China on Friday dismissed a U.S. House of Representatives resolution condemning China over a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down above U.S. waters as "purely political manipulation and hyping up." The resolution, which passed unanimously on Thursday, condemned China for a violation of U.S. sovereignty.
China on Friday dismissed a U.S. House of Representatives resolution condemning China over a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down above U.S. waters as "purely political manipulation and hyping up."
"China is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a daily briefing.
"The resolution by the U.S. Congress was purely political manipulation and hyping up," Mao said.
The resolution, which passed unanimously on Thursday, condemned China for a "brazen violation" of U.S. sovereignty and efforts to "deceive the international community through false claims about its intelligence collection campaigns."
Republicans have criticized Biden for not acting sooner to down the balloon, but both parties' lawmakers came together on the vote, 419-0.
China insists the object was a civilian weather balloon that had been blown off course, but has not said who it belonged to or offered other details.
Meanwhile, China's Defence Ministry said it refused a call from U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin following the downing of the balloon because the U.S. had "not created the proper atmosphere" for dialogue and exchange.
