Hong Kong: The spy balloon episode from China will have far-reaching repercussions on the bilateral ties between the United States and China, which can be understood by the postponement of the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China, reported Hong Kong Post.
As per the reports, US State Secretary was supposed to go on an official visit to China between February 5th and 6th. “If China does not work to repair its relations with the US soon, the ties may get more endangered through balloon episode, which could also affect the meeting between US President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping, which is scheduled to be held in Indonesia in November,” according to the Hong Kong Post.
The reports further noted that China has more to lose because of the balloon episode. The nation has constantly been trying to put on a friendly image before the world and also looks to expand its engagement in communities internationally. During the latest Davos meeting of the World Economic Forum also, China claimed that it would continue its functions of liberalization and further openings, said reports.
The Chinese balloon was recently shot down by the US officials, which the Chinese Communist Party issued a statement was a communications set-up and which the US declared a spy in the air at 60,000 feet.
“This arguably the most dramatic incident happened in years which involves the China and United States, it was an unnamed balloon roaming along on a meandering stratospheric path throughout the US mainland, which set the proverbial cat among the pigeons,” according to the Washington Post. a
Furthermore, Hong Kong Post noted that the Chinese balloon was tracked, which was as big as three busses, in US airspace and a week after the US officials identified it transited over the Alaskan archipelago, after which the F-22 Raptor jet missile shot it down.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have rejected a request from Washington for a telephone call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of the US and his counterpart Wei Fenghe, reported New York Times. The phone call request was made on Saturday, soon after a US fighter aircraft was shot down a suspected spy balloon from China off the coast of South Carolina.