The Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Mao Ning (pictured) remarked on Wednesday at a press conference that the United States is exaggerating and "playing up" the threat Beijing represents to it, which does not help improve mutual trust and relations between the two countries.
Commenting on a balloon the US shot down and suspected was China's spying device, Mao said that Washington's use of force on a civilian-unmanned airship was "unacceptable" and "irresponsible." She stressed Beijing's goal is to have relations with the US based on "mutual respect, peaceful co-existence, and win-win cooperation while defending its sovereignty, safety, and development interests."
Mao also noted that economy-wise, China does not fear competition but on the other hand, does not want its relations with the US to harm the global industrial and supply chain.