US communicates with China over ‘spy’ balloon

WORLD, Feb. 13 (YPA) – The United States has communicated with Beijing on the balloon, which it recently shot down after it was suspected of being for espionage purposes.

“There have been contacts made with the PRC on the high altitude balloon,” Assistant Secretary of Defense Melissa Dalton told reporters, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asked to speak with Chinese counterparts shortly after an Air Force fighter shot down the Chinese balloon off the US east coast after it had traversed the entire country for days.

But he got no response, even though the incident prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a long-planned diplomatic mission to Beijing.

China said Thursday it refused the offer of a call with the US defence chief because of Washington’s “irresponsible” decision to shoot down the balloon.

E.M