In China’s state media, the appearance and shooting down of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the USA is still kept under wraps so far. The usual outrage-fuelled editorials have yet to appear. However, the basic tone of the State Department’s official statement is already reflected in the news-style reports: the flying object was a civilian weather balloon. The reaction of the USA was as exaggerated as “shooting the mosquito with the cannon”, a Chinese military expert is quoted. Nevertheless, similar steps will now be reserved for “similar situations”, the statement continues. So far, so predictable.
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