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Top diplomats from the United States and China met on Saturday in the first high-level contact between their countries since the US shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon two weeks ago, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken sending a message that Beijing’s surveillance program has been “visible to the world.” “
Blinken and Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official, held talks in Munich, where they were attending an international security conference, according to the US State Department.
“I condemn the PRC surveillance balloon attack and insist that it will never happen again,” Blinken said in a tweet, referring to the People’s Republic of China.
His spokesman, Ned Price, said in a statement that Blinken “made it clear that the United States will not violate our sovereignty, and the PRC’s high-altitude surveillance balloon program – which has entered the airspace of more than 40 countries around the world. Five continents – has been seen by the world this,” Price said.
US ‘not looking for a new Cold War’: official
Blinken had canceled a trip to Beijing earlier this month because of the balloon incident, which has become a major issue between the two countries. The meeting at the conference in Germany has been much anticipated.
He also told Wang that the U.S. is not seeking conflict with China, repeating a standard talking point provided by the Biden administration since taking office.
“The United States will compete and will unapologetically stand up for our values and interests, but we do not want a conflict with the PRC and are not looking for a new Cold War,” said Price. Blinken “stressed the importance of maintaining diplomatic dialogue and open communication at all times.”
In addition to the balloon incident, Price said Blinken has reiterated the warning to China to provide assistance to Russia to help fight against Ukraine, including Moscow’s help in evading West sanctions imposed on Russia.
Front burner19:21What, exactly, was shot out of the sky?
It all started two weeks ago with a suspected Chinese spy balloon, carrying about three busloads of cargo. A US fighter jet shot down after hovering over the continent. Then, the US shot down another object: something in the air in Alaska that the US said was not a balloon. And now, a third and fourth object has been shot down over North America this month, in this case over the Yukon and Lake Huron. Today, Dan Lamothe explains what is known and unknown about these objects and what may have influenced the decision to take them. Lamothe covers the Pentagon and the US Military for The Washington Post.
China insists the balloon is used for weather research
Earlier on Friday, Wang has renewed Beijing’s criticism of the US for taking down what Washington says are Chinese spy balloons, arguing that the move is not pointed to US strength.
Beijing insists on the white orb taken down from the coast of Carolina on February 4. This is only an errant civilian airship used mainly for meteorological research that goes off course because of the wind and has only limited “self-steering” capabilities.
Wang, director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, repeated the insistence in a speech at the conference and accused the US of violating international legal norms when it destroyed the object with a missile fired from a US fighter jet.
“These actions do not show that the US is great and strong, but rather the opposite,” he said.
Wang also accused the US of rejecting China’s economic progress and seeking to hinder its development.
“What we want from the US is a pragmatic and positive approach to China that allows us to work together,” he said.
The Biden administration says the Chinese spy balloons it shot down were part of a fleet flown around the world. Officials faced questions from Republicans at two hearings about why the balloons were not removed.
The comments came shortly before a speech at a conference by US Vice President Kamala Harris, who did not mention the balloon controversy or respond to Wang’s comments. He stressed the importance of maintaining an “order based on international rules.”
Harris said that Washington is “concerned that Beijing has increased its relations with Moscow since the war began” in Ukraine and “hopes that any step taken by China to provide support that could cause Russia will only reward aggression, continue to kill and undermine the rule of law. – based on order.”
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