Blinken: China Gave No Apology for Spy Balloon

Biden’s top diplomatic representative said China had not offered an apology for this weekend’s incident. Spy balloon suspected of being a spy It covers an extensive area of the United States.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken shared the blunt assessment after meeting on Saturday with China’s head diplomat, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference.

“I don’t want to characterize what he said. I don’t think that would be appropriate. Although I can tell you, no, there was no apology,” In an interview with Blinken, he said: NBC News “Meet the Press” That aired Sunday.

The U.S. Air Force took down the balloon just two weeks ago off South Carolina’s coast. However, the vessel had already traveled across a large area of the U.S., from Montana to the southeast coast, past military installations, and not before it was shot down. According to U.S. officials, the military delayed bringing down the balloon until it was over the Atlantic Ocean. This was because falling debris could be dangerous for people below. The officials also claimed that China was not allowed to gather valuable intelligence.

Beijing claims that the balloon was a civilian weather balloon and was mainly blown off its course. It also accused the U.S. Overreacting The shoot-down was successful. In retaliation the U.S. blacklisted six Chinese entities China levied after Beijing’s military-aerospace programs. Sanctions two major U.S. defense contractors.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden stated that he makes every effort to make America great again. “no apologies” for shooting it down — it’s unclear who was asking him to apologize — though he insisted the U.S. is not seeking a “new Cold War” China. Biden stated that U.S. intelligence doesn’t believe the three mysterious flying objects that the U.S. military shot over North America in days following the incident were part of any spying operation.

Blinken echoed Biden’s position on China and said he told Biden that the balloon episode was a matter of concern. “unacceptable and can never happen again.”

The U.S. military It was completed. Last week’s remains of the balloon. According to the U.S. Northern Command, the debris would be transferred to an FBI laboratory in Virginia. “counterintelligence exploitation.”