USA: Foreign Minister Blinken sharply criticizes China for spy balloon

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US Secretary of State Blinken in Washington, DC

Photo: WILL OLIVER/EPA

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described China's actions in relation to the spy balloon discovered over the United States as "irresponsible" and "unacceptable".

Blinken said in Washington that he also expressed this to the top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in a telephone conversation.

The balloon's appearance in US airspace is a clear violation of US sovereignty and a clear violation of international law.

The world expects the US and China to handle their relationship responsibly.

The US is doing this and he expects China to do the same, Blinken said.

The United States is keeping all communication channels to China open.

The highest priority for the US is now to remove the balloon from its airspace, Blinken said.

However, he did not say how this should be done.

The Pentagon had previously said it had decided against shooting down the balloon because of the danger of falling debris.

Actually, Blinken should have left for a visit to China on Friday.

However, in light of current events, the visit was canceled at the last minute.

He intends to visit Beijing as soon as conditions allow, Blinken said.

However, China's behavior in the run-up to the planned visit has damaged substantive talks, Blinken said in relation to the balloon.

On Thursday evening (local time), the Pentagon announced that it had been tracking a flying object in the airspace over the United States for days.

One is sure that it is a Chinese spy balloon, it said.

After some hesitation, China admitted that it was a Chinese aircraft.

However, the balloon is only used for scientific purposes and has deviated from its trajectory.

aeh/dpa/AFP