Key takeaways:
- The Biden administration is considering a response to the discovery of a Chinese balloon flying over sensitive sites in the US.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a planned diplomatic trip to China in response.
- The balloon is believed to be a surveillance device, and its presence has raised concerns about Chinese espionage activities in the US.
The Biden administration is weighing a response to the discovery of a high-altitude Chinese balloon flying over sensitive sites in the western United States. In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a planned high-stakes weekend diplomatic trip to China.
The Chinese foreign ministry has claimed that the balloon is a “civilian airship” used mainly for weather research that deviated from its planned course. On Friday morning, Blinken told his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, that the trip would need to be postponed, but he intends to visit at a future date.
The Pentagon revealed on Thursday that it was tracking the balloon, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement was the first admission that the airship originated in China. The balloon is believed to be a surveillance device, and its presence has raised concerns about Chinese espionage activities in the US.
The Biden administration is now considering a response to the balloon’s presence, and Blinken’s postponed trip is seen as a sign of the seriousness with which the US is taking the situation. It is unclear when Blinken will reschedule his trip, or what the US response to the balloon will be.
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