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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed his deliberate journey to China attributable to tensions over a Chinese spy balloon over U.S. soil, a senior State Department official stated on Friday.
The official added that Blinken would search to journey to China “when conditions allow.”
China earlier expressed remorse that what it referred to as a “civilian” airship had strayed into U.S. territory after being blown off beam, an incident that sparked political furore within the United States.
“We have noted the PRC (People’s Republic of China) statement of regret, but the presence of this balloon in our airspace is a clear violation of our sovereignty as well as international law, and it is unacceptable that this has occurred,” the official advised reporters on a name.
“After consultations with our interagency partners as well as with Congress, we have concluded that the conditions are not right at this moment for Secretary Blinken to travel to China,” the official stated.
Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder advised reporters on Thursday that the federal government was monitoring a high-altitude surveillance balloon over the continental United States and stated it was “travelling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”
U.S. navy leaders thought-about capturing down the balloon over Montana on Wednesday however ultimately President Joe Biden determined in opposition to it due to the protection danger from particles, U.S. officers stated on Thursday.
In an announcement on Friday, China’s overseas ministry stated the balloon was for civilian meteorological and different scientific functions and that it regretted that the airship had strayed into U.S. airspace.
