SHANGHAI, Dec 29 (Reuters) – China said on Thursday it had shot down an unidentified flying object (UFO) that entered its airspace over the Yellow Sea..
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan, following the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday..
The Chinese defence ministry said in a statement that the object was shot down by the Chinese air force after it entered Chinese airspace over the waters of the Yellow Sea at 10:13 a.m. local time (02:13 GMT)..
The ministry said the object was cylindrical in shape and was flying at an altitude of about 20,000 meters (65,600 feet). It did not provide any details about the object’s origin or purpose..
The Yellow Sea is a semi-enclosed marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean located off the coast of China, North Korea and South Korea. It is the northernmost of the four seas around China, the others being the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Bohai Sea..
The downing of the UFO comes just days after China’s foreign ministry said it had lodged a formal complaint with the United States over the downing of the alleged Chinese spy balloon..
The ministry said the balloon was a civilian research vessel that had strayed into U.S. airspace due to force majeure and accused the United States of overreacting..
The United States has maintained that the balloon was a surveillance vessel and has refused to return its wreckage to China..
The incidents have further strained relations between the two countries, which are already at a low ebb over a range of issues, including trade, Taiwan and human rights..
The downing of the UFO is the latest in a series of incidents involving unidentified objects flying over the United States and Canada in recent weeks..
The United States has been on high alert since the suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4. The balloon had been flying over the United States for several days before it was detected and shot down..
The United States has since shot down three other unidentified objects, one over Alaska on Feb. 10, one over Canada’s Yukon Territory on Feb. 11, and one over Lake Huron on Feb. 12..
The origin and purpose of the three objects remains unknown. The United States has said that they were not balloons and that they were not capable of manoeuvring themselves..
The incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of the airspace over North America. The United States and Canada have both加强ed their air patrols and are working together to investigate the incidents..
The downing of the UFO over the Yellow Sea is a reminder of the tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan. The United States has repeatedly warned China against using force against Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory..
The United States has also been increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region in recent years, which has angered China..
The incidents involving unidentified objects flying over the United States and Canada have further heightened tensions between the two countries. It is unclear whether the objects are related to the suspected Chinese spy balloon or whether they are part of a new threat to North America’s airspace..
The United States and Canada are continuing to investigate the incidents and are working together to ensure the safety and security of their airspace..
