Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning (pictured) claimed on Tuesday that the ballon that was shot down by the United States over its territory belongs to China.
When asked at a regular press briefing whether Beijing had requested Washington to return the object, Mao remarked that the balloon is China's and that it does not belong to the US, adding that her country "will continue to defend its legitimate rights and interests."
The US claimed that the ballon in question was a surveillance device and attributed its delayed downing to an "awareness gap." On the other hand, China alleged that the flying object was a meteorological device, accusing Washington of damaging the relations between the two countries by using force.
