BEIJING, March 7. /TASS/. The United States are pursuing an unacceptable policy, abusing force and disregarding intenational law, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday, commenting on the destruction of the country’s civilian balloon over the US territory.

"Even the United States has acknowledged that it [the balloon] did not pose any danger," he said, speaking at a news conference during the annual sessions of the country's main deliberative and legislative bodies held this week in Beijing, "But the US is acting contrary to the spirit of international [cooperation], violating international rules. The US side is guided by presumption of guilt, it abuses force."

As Qin Gang clarified, Washington "has caused a diplomatic crisis that could have been avoided."

According to the Chinese Foreign Minister, "there is a serious bias" in the US position on China. "The US considers China the main competitor and the most serious geopolitical threat," he added, "In fact, this is nothing but so-called competition aimed at containing and suppressing China."

US authorities ealier detected a Chinese balloon over the mainland at an altitude well above standard parameters for commercial air travel. It posed no threat to people on the ground. On February 4, the balloon was shot down by a missile in US airspace. According to the Washington administration, China was using this vehicle to gather important intelligence. In connection with the incident, Blinken postponed his visit to China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry protested over Washington’s attacks and slander. Beijing explained that the Chinese meteorological probe was in US airspace due to force majeure.