Sec of State Blinken Postpones China Trip

U.S. Secretaryof State Antony Blinken His trip to China was postponed due to the controversy over a Chinese surveillance ballon detected in the north United States.

Friday’s State Department officials confirmed that Blinken’s trip, although never officially announced, was postponed indefinitely and that U.S. airspace has been cleared for a Chinese surveillance balloon. “a clear violation of our sovereignty, as well as international law.” 

“It is unacceptable that this has occurred. After consultations with our interagency partners, as well as with Congress, we have concluded that the conditions are not right at this moment for Secretary Blinken to travel to China,” A senior official stated. 

According to officials, the secretary of states has been in contact with Wang Yi, the Chinese counterpart of the secretary of State, regarding the incident. Officials also stated that the U.S. government was maintaining open lines of communication between the People’s Republic of China and the United States. 

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Antony Blinken is the Secretary of State during a conference at Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem, January 31, 2023.
(RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

Blinken was to Travel to Beijing this weekend John Kirby, White House National Security Coordinator Strategic Communications John Kirby stated earlier that President Xi will meet with him to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict and also to discuss it with Chinese officials. 

Top Republicans in the House Foreign Affairs Committee Blinken demanded that Xi confront him over the spy ballon during his trip. “unacceptable” U.S. sovereignty and airspace violated 

Others Republicans went further with Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) saying: “Secretary Blinken should cancel his trip to China.” 

“And President Biden must answer why he has not secured U.S. airspace,” Cotton added.

CHINA CONFIRMS BALLOON IS THEIRS. SPOKESPERSON CLAIMS IT CIVILLIAN RESEARCH-AIRSHIP

In this photo, taken using social media, a balloon is seen flying in the skies above Billings Montana, U.S.A., February 1, 2023.
(Chase Doak/via Reuters)

Friday’s confirmation by the People’s Republic of China was that the balloon had been launched Detected in Montana Chinese. 

China claimed the airship was a civilian research craft, which was lost in the prevailing winds.

“The airship is from China. It is a civilian airship used for research, mainly meteorological, purposes,” A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated Friday. “Affected by the Westerlies and with limited self-steering capability, the airship deviated far from its planned course.”

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Chinese President Xi Jinping
(Photo by Thomas Peter/ Reuters).

Brig. General Pat Ryder announced Thursday afternoon at a press conference that the U.S. government had detected high-altitude surveillance satellites hovering over the continent U.S.

“The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now,” Ryder stated Thursday. “The U.S. government to include Norad, continues to track and monitor it closely. The balloon is currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. 

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He continued, “Over the years, instances of this type of balloon activity were previously observed. The U.S. government took immediate action to prevent the collection of sensitive data after the balloon was discovered.

Map depicts the approximate route of a Chinese surveillance satellite over Montana, Friday February 3, 2023.
(Fox News)

China claimed it “regrets” The incident. 

State Department officials admitted that China had expressed regret, but they maintained their confidence in their assessment. 

They claimed that Blinken will travel with them to China “at the earliest opportunity when conditions once again allow.” 

This report was co-authored by Kelly Laco, Kelly Nerozzi, and Timothy Nerozzi from Fox News.