China gives ‘no apology’ in first assembly after spy balloon incident, Blinken says

China’s senior overseas minister provided “no apology” in his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the spy balloon that floated over the U.S., Blinken mentioned in an interview Saturday on NBC Information’ “Meet the Press.”

“There was no apology,” Blinken mentioned of his dialog with Wang Yi, director of the Individuals’s Republic of China CCP Central Overseas Affairs workplace. “However what I also can inform you is that this was a chance to talk very clearly and really instantly about the truth that China despatched a surveillance balloon over our territory, violating our sovereignty, violating worldwide legislation.”

“And I informed him fairly merely that that was unacceptable and may by no means occur once more,” Blinken mentioned.

Blinken met with Wang on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich Safety Convention in Germany previous to the interview.

Within the interview, he additionally voiced concern that China is aiding the Russians of their struggle in Ukraine. NBC Information solely reported Saturday that U.S. officials believe China may be providing Russia nonlethal army help.

“We’re very involved that China’s contemplating offering deadly help to Russia in its aggression in opposition to Ukraine,” Blinken mentioned, “and I made clear that that may have critical penalties in our relationship, as properly one thing that President [Joe] Biden has shared instantly with President Xi [Jinping] on a number of events.”

Lastly, Blinken mentioned he informed Wang that there must be open traces of communication between China and the U.S: “That is one thing that the world expects of us — they count on us to handle this relationship responsibly, and so it was necessary that we had that chance this night right here in Munich.”

Blinken mentioned the U.S. is not the one nation that has been topic to Chinese language spy balloons. “Greater than forty nations have had these balloons fly over them lately, and that is been uncovered to the world,” Blinken mentioned.

Diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and China have elevated for the reason that U.S. shot down what it says was a spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. China has insisted the balloon was not supposed for surveillance.

The balloon, which floated above U.S. for eight days, included “a number of antennas” able to gathering indicators intelligence and the balloon maker has confirmed ties to the Chinese language army, NBC News previously reported, in keeping with a senior State Division official.

The U.S. has not heard any credible rationalization and firmly stands by its evaluation that it was a surveillance balloon, a senior State Division official mentioned Saturday.