China assured that american hot air balloons they had overflew their airspace without permission in more than 10 times since early January 2022, although the White House denied the allegation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, in response to a question at a regular press briefing in Beijing, did not provide further details amid the international scandal over the “spy balloons“.
Asked how China had responded to the balloons, Wang said his country’s response to such incidents is responsible and professional, the British news agency reported. Archyde.com.
The US acknowledged that the balloons have “limited” benefits for Chinese espionage
China’s claim comes after the United States shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina earlier this month. Beijing claims it was a civilian research vessel and accuses Washington of exaggerating.
The US Army has subsequently shot down three more flying objects over North America.
International tension over “spy balloons”
In this regard, the White House Homeland Security spokesman, John Kirbysaid The United States did not fly balloons over China and that he was not aware of any other US aircraft traveling over Chinese airspace.
In this context, the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinkis considering meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a security conference in Munich, in what would be their first face-to-face talk since Washington shot down flying objects over their territory, sources told Archyde.com.
In the last days, the US Army shot down four flying objects over North Americamost recently on Sunday, when an octagonal object was brought down on the lago Huronthe Pentagon said.
China also detected an “unidentified flying object” over the Yellow Sea
Earlier this month, Blinken postponed a planned trip to Beijing due to what the United States called unacceptable violation of its sovereignty and airspace by a Chinese surveillance balloon later shot down off the coast of South Carolina.
The episodes have raised questions about when the countries might hold high-level meetings again, both keen to inject stability into turbulent relations.
A US official told Archyde.com on condition of anonymity that it was possible to meeting between Blinken and Wang in Munich. A second source familiar with the US plans also said it was possible, but nothing had been confirmed.
The State Department and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Tension on the rise: the “balloon crisis” between the US and China worsens
China’s foreign ministry has reacted angrily to Washington’s spying allegations, claiming the balloon was a civilian research ship and accusing the United States of hypocrisy.
US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, He noted last week that Blinken had postponed his visit to China, not canceled or foregone future high-level communication with China.
One opportunity to meet is the security conference to be held in Munich from February 17 to 19, which both Blinken and Wang will attend.
ED
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