Col. Tan Kefei, the spokesman, said in a statement carried by the official Xinhua news agency that the use of force against what the Chinese insist was a civilian weather balloon led to the decision to turn down the call.
Chinese military confirms snub of U.S. Defense Secretary Austin's call over balloon
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The PLA would continue to launch such missions until Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party ceases “constantly provoking confrontation and enmity between the two sides," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei said at a monthly briefing Thursday.
US to sell Taiwan anti-tank system amid rising China threat
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