US and Chinese diplomatic chiefs meet for the first time after the spy balloon incident

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkorganized this Saturday in Munich a meet face to face with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yiduring the first face-to-face meeting between the highest diplomatic officials of the two countries since the crisis opened by the shooting down on American soil of an alleged spy balloon from Beijing.

Blinken posted on his Twitter account that the meeting was taking place as part of the Munich Security Conference (MSC). “I condemned the PRC’s surveillance balloon raid and stressed that it must not happen again. I warned China against supplying aid materials to Russia and also stressed the importance of keeping lines of communication open.”he pointed.

For its part, according to the Chinese state press agency XinhuaWang told Blinken that relations between the two countries had been damaged by the US response to the presence of the Chinese balloon flying over its territory.

The report of Xinhua pointed out that Wang “clearly expressed China’s solemn position on the so-called airship incident” and “urged the US side to change course, recognize and repair the damage its excessive use of force has caused to relations.” Chinese-Americans.

This meeting took place on the same day as Wang lashed out at the United States during his appearance before the international forum in Munich, during which he called Act “incomprehensible and almost hysterical” President Joe Biden’s decision to shoot down a Chinese balloon on February 4 which Washington says is part of a spy program and which for Beijing was only for weather purposes.

The ball down in South Carolina also came on the eve of a planned visit by Blinken to Beijing, which was suspended due to the crisis. Department officials are ensuring that the trip is still ongoing and a new date will be given when conditions are suitable.

the United States then shot down three other flying objects on its territory and in Canada, the origin of which is under investigation by the American and Canadian authorities, but which according to Biden does not appear to have any connection with the “spy” balloon.

Biden said during a press appearance in Washington on Thursday that he planned to discuss the ‘spy’ ball with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, but announced he was not going to apologize for having it. beaten down.

The Democratic president also warned that he would not hesitate to shoot down any flying object that poses a threat to the American people, while Blinken stressed this Saturday that the United States does not want “conflict” with China or is looking for “a new cold war”.

With information from AFP, EFE and EuropaPress

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