* Blinken was scheduled to travel to China on Sunday for a visit which included a landmark meeting with President Xi Jinping
* The visit has been postponed after the detection of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the United States this week
* US officials feared the balloon could be monitoring sensitive nuclear sites in Montana - but China claims is a civilian airship which blew off course
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a planned visit to China following the detection of a suspected spy balloon over the United States which Beijing has claimed is a civilian airship which blew off course.
Blinken was expected to travel on Sunday for a visit which included a landmark meeting with President Xi Jinping. The trip was postponed on Friday morning after the balloon was detected earlier this week and monitored flying worryingly close to sensitive nuclear sites in Montana.
The detection of the balloon, which triggered alarm in the White House and the Pentagon, adds to a series of recent controversies that have further strained the tense relationship between China and the United States.
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WNU Editor: So much for resetting U.S. - China relations.
U.S. Secretary Of State Blinken Postpones Trip To China After Suspected Spy Balloon Spotted Over U.S.
Blinken postpones China trip following balloon discovery -- AP
Blinken postpones China trip over spy balloon incident -- Reuters
Blinken postpones China trip as suspected spy balloon detected over U.S. -- Washington Post
China's suspected spy balloon prompts Blinken to postpone Beijing trip as Congress seeks answers -- CNBC
Blinken postpones high-stakes Beijing trip after suspected Chinese spy balloon spotted over the U.S. -- NBC
After Chinese balloon enters US airspace, Biden secretary of state postpones trip to China -- FOX News
Blinken trip to China postponed over ‘unacceptable’ spy balloon -- The Hill
US halts Blinken China visit after spy balloon row -- BBC
US secretary of state postpones China visit after spy balloon flies over Montana -- The Guardian
US to Postpone Blinken's Visit to China Over Its Spy Balloon -- Bloomberg
Balloon drama is the worst possible lead up to expected Blinken visit to China -- CNN
Not welcome.
ReplyDeleteThe US Mil and Gov't have seized another opportunity to look completely inept and stupid over this balloon. It should have been brought down as soon as it was over land and looked over. I'm watching a ridiculous presser from some general who is doing nothing but hand-wringing and vacillating over the thing. Whatever.
ReplyDeletethat balloon is the size of three buses
ReplyDeleteit could cause great damage or deaths if shot down and it is in place where it is being studied. The gen clearly has lots of info and it is classified. but of course that is not ever enough so instinct says: shoot it down. shoot. shoot.
better question: why with signet and our satellites and china's satellites they are using this. Clearly they want us to see it, if they can control it.