US in contact with China over ‘spy’ balloon, says Pentagon official

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

Washington,UPDATED: Feb 13, 2023 09:09 IST

A Chinese spy balloon not too long ago floated over nuclear silos within the United States and was later shot down (Photo: Reuters)

By Agence France-Presse: The United States has communicated with Beijing on the alleged Chinese surveillance balloon shot down on February 4, after Pentagon overtures have been rebuffed for days, a defence official stated Sunday.

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

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested to talk with Chinese counterparts shortly after an Air Force fighter shot down the Chinese balloon off the US east coast after it had traversed the whole nation for days.

ALSO READ | How US shot down Chinese ‘spy’ balloon and what’s subsequent

But he obtained no response, regardless that the incident prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a long-planned diplomatic mission to Beijing.

China stated Thursday it refused the provide of a name with the US defence chief due to Washington’s “irresponsible” determination to shoot down the balloon.

“This irresponsible and seriously mistaken approach by the US did not create a proper atmosphere for dialogue and exchanges between the two militaries,” China’s defence ministry stated in a press release.

ALSO READ | Chinese Army controls ‘spy’ balloons, able to amassing communication alerts: US

“The US insisted on using force to attack the airship, which seriously violated international practice and sets a bad precedent,” it added.

Dalton, talking after fighter jets downed the fourth suspicious object detected in US airspace in simply over per week on Sunday, gave no particulars about who was concerned within the contact or what they communicated.

While US officers say they’re sure the Chinese balloon was in US airspace to gather intelligence, they haven’t characterised the next three objects, saying they’re smaller and didn’t notably resemble the Chinese balloon.

ALSO READ | US could crack down on Chinese entities linked to spy balloon incursion

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Feb 13, 2023