The United States has informed Beijing about the alleged downing of a Chinese surveillance balloon on February 4, after Pentagon requests for dialogue were rejected for several days, a defense official said on Sunday.

The remains of a downed American reconnaissance ball were recovered by the US NavyPhoto: US Navy/ MEGA / The Mega Agency / Profimedia

“Contacts have been initiated with the PRC regarding the high-altitude balloon,” Deputy Defense Secretary Melissa Dalton told reporters, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asked to speak with his Chinese counterparts shortly after a US fighter jet shot down a balloon that had been in US skies for several days.

The requests were unsuccessful as Beijing criticized Washington’s “irresponsible” action in shooting down the balloon.

“This irresponsible and seriously mistaken act did not create a climate conducive to dialogue and exchanges between the two armies,” China’s defense ministry said in a statement.

“The United States insisted on the use of force against the Chinese civilian balloon, which seriously contradicts international practice and sets a bad precedent,” the same source said.

Melissa Dalton did not specify the contacts between the two states.

On Sunday, Washington announced that it had shot down a new “object” at altitude, without specifying its nature. This is the fourth object shot down in the airspace of the USA or Canada in less than ten days. (Source Agerpres)

A week ago, the United States shot down a Chinese balloon that Washington says was being used by China for espionage, while Beijing says it was a weather balloon veered off course by the wind.

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