US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken accused China of violating US sovereignty by introducing a Chinese balloon into US airspace, adding that Washington had handled the matter “responsibly.”
“We hear again from our partners that the world expects China and the US to manage their relationship responsibly. This is what we are striving for and we encourage China to do the same,” Blinken said during a joint press conference with the NATO secretary. General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington, Wednesday.
Blinken indicated that he discussed with Stoltenberg “the tactical challenges that China poses to the alliance and the international system.”
Commenting on the crash of a Chinese airship in American airspace, he added: “Last week, Beijing violated international law and the sovereignty of the United States by placing a Chinese reconnaissance balloon in the country’s airspace. It was an irresponsible act, and we dealt with it. responsibly and with restraint to protect our interests.”
He explained that the process of lifting the wreckage of the airship is currently ongoing and that Washington is studying it “to learn more about spyware,” noting that the US has provided information about this program to many of its allies. which resulted in “violation of the sovereignty of countries on five continents,” according to Him.
Source: TASS