Costa Rica-China tensions over a hot air balloon
Beijing ambassador summoned to ask for clarification on airspace violation
After last Saturday the shooting down of a Chinese balloon (spy or meteorological) by an AIM-9X air-to-air missile fired by a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter that penetrated the skies of the United States, now Costa Rica has also summoned the Chinese ambassador to ask for clarification on the violation of the Central American country's airspace.
The diplomat announced that "the object does not represent any threat to any country. The balloon observed from various parts of the national territory was of a civilian nature and had scientific purposes, mainly meteorological. Its presence in Costa Rica is due to the fact that has been deviated from its planned route due to weather conditions and limited ability to self-direct".
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica has taken note of the clarifications received" from China but "it is a priority to guarantee its mission of safeguarding national sovereignty, demanding respect for international law, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the country without restrictions by the international community".
AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency