A US decision to shoot down a balloon Beijing claimed had veered off course has “seriously impacted and damaged” relations between the countries, China’s foreign ministry said Monday. “The US’ actions have seriously impacted and damaged both sides’ efforts and progress in stabilising Sino-US relations since the Bali meeting,” vice foreign minister Xie Feng said, according to a foreign ministry statement, referring to a summit between presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November.