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China investigates reports of spy balloons over the US. Photo/The Guardian
BEIJING – China said it was investigating reports that their spy balloon had flown into the airspace United States of America (US). Beijing has urged calm on all sides.
“China is a responsible country and always strictly adheres to international law, and China has no intention of violating the territory and airspace of any sovereign country,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning.
“Regarding the balloon, as I mentioned just now, we are investigating and verifying the situation and hope that both sides can handle this together in a calm and prudent manner,” Mao added at the daily briefing as quoted by The Associated Press, Friday (3/2 /2023).
Mao said politicians and the public should hold back judgment before having a clear understanding of the facts.
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The incident occurred ahead of the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing. The top US diplomat is scheduled to arrive on Friday next week and become the first high-ranking US official to visit China since the Covid-19 pandemic occurred.
He will arrive amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Beijing and Washington over trade, Taiwan, human rights and China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
In this regard, Mao said he had no information about whether the planned trip to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would proceed next week as scheduled.
“What I want to emphasize is that until we have a clear understanding of the facts, speculation and sensationalism will not help proper handling of the matter. Regarding Blinken’s visit to China, I have no information,” Mao concluded.
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